Auckland's $18m cycleway opens up the inner city

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Stuff reporter Mary Fitzgerald reviews Auckland's famous Light Path cycleway in the CBD.

The Nelson St cycleway has been developed to open up the inner city for walkers and cyclists, and it's working.

In 2016 186,000 cyclists used the cycleway, Auckland Transport figures show.

The $18 million bright pink cycleway is elevated over busy Auckland roads and leads down through to Nelson St, touted as New Zealand's most ambitious piece of cycling infrastructure, is the first to be reviewed in our Auckland urban cycleway review series.

Fairfax Media reporter Mary Fitzgerald explored the Nelson St cycleway's Lightpath which provides city views along an elevated magenta route.

The cycleway is easy and safe to use, well sign posted, and gets people to where they need to be in the inner city quickly by foot or bike. I give it a rating of 9/10.

**READ MORE:

The Lightpath connects to Nelson St at the Union St and Nelson St intersection where there are cycle-crossing facilities, with a cycle traffic crossing.

* Auckland's urban cycleways put to the test

* First stage of $46m Orakei cycleway opens

* Auckland cycle lane upgrade imminent

* Hazardous Auckland intersection gets an upgrade**

It has a gentle slope and links the northwestern cycle route, Grafton Gully and the waterfront, creating a walking and cycling route along the west side of the CBD.

There are panoramic views from Freemans Bay, Ponsonby, over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, to the North Shore, along with views into the central business district.

Taking time to stop and look across the cityscape and down over the motorway junction, as streams of traffic flow beneath is worthwhile.

The Nelson St cycleway is divided into two parts, Te Ara I Whiti - The Lightpath, and Nelson St cycle lane section.

The first part links the Upper Queen St bridge to Nelson St via the magenta coloured Lightpath.

The cycleway starts at the Upper Queen St and Canada St intersection, and continues down on the west side of Nelson St to the intersection of Victoria St.

The Lightpath is elevated, passing over a crisscross of motorway lanes and is a dramatic place to ride and walk. It is open to cyclists, skaters, scooters and pedestrians.

At night it is a spectacle of pink and purple lighting hues, making it both engaging and safe to use in the evening.

When opened in 2015 the Lightpath's bright magenta seal was vibrant. However, the wear, tear and fading of the seal is evident along much of the route now and this is under council investigation.

The cycleway is suitable for families and commuters on bike or foot.

To join the Lightpath enter either from the Canada St and Upper Queen St intersection or from the motorway junction at Union St.

It links with the completed Grafton Gully cycleway at the Upper Queen St end.

The two way, three metre wide protected cycle lane down the west side of Nelson St is for cyclists only, with a separate pedestrian walkway.

Along Nelson St there are cycle-crossings, with cycle traffic signals, at intersections. There are peaks of the harbour along this partly tree-lined stretch of cycle way.

Join the Nelson St cycleway from the Nelson St intersections with Union St, Cook St, Wellesley St West or Victoria St West.

In April the cycleway will be extended to Quay St to complete the Auckland City Cycle Loop, which will make cycling around the inner city separate from car traffic a reality.