Auckland Transport can't install any bike racks near $1m Viaduct cycleway

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

A cycleway is being trialled through the Viaduct Harbour. Project WAVE connects the busy Nelson and Quay St cycleways, but many local business owners are opposed to it

A new cycleway that is expected to be used by hundreds of people a day is located in an area where there are no bike racks.

Project WAVE is a $1 million cycleway trial in the Viaduct Harbour that is opposed by a group of residents and business owners.

Auckland Transport (AT) said it is unable to install any bike racks in the area.

“The only land in the Viaduct that is controlled by AT is the roads. We can’t put bike racks on private land,” spokeswoman Natalie Polley said.

Some residents and business owners, including high-profile model Geeling Ching, are opposed to Project WAVE.

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Auckland Transport has described its Project Wave cycleway trial as the “missing link” in the city centre cycling loop, running along Market Place, Customs St West, and Lower Hobson St.

Polley said AT expects the cycleway to be very well-used, “judging by the number of people on bikes on the two cycleways it connects to – around 800 people on bikes a day on Nelson St”.

“Quay St has around 1200 to 1500 people on bikes a day.”

AT could not provide a figure for the total number of bike racks located in the city centre, but last week unveiled the Aotea Bike Shelter on Queen St.

The parking, which can cater for 30 bikes, is free and can be used by anyone. Free bike locks were given away by AT the day after the launch.

“It’s our first double-decker bike rack, and we are looking at more to come,” Polley said.

Project Wave is part of the Government’s Innovating Streets programme, which supports councils to create more people-friendly spaces in towns and cities.

Market Place and Customs Street West have been transformed into one-way streets in the trial, with one lane now occupied by the cycleway.

The cycleway will open in stages, with Customs St West and Market Place sections completed and Lower Hobson St to be finished by May 12.

Auckland Transport will decide on its long-term future in mid-2021.