No plans for Auckland Harbour Bridge cycle lane trial, despite bike protest

Monday, 31 May 2021

Cycling protesters push past police barrier to ride on harbour bridge. (First published May 2021)

A cycle lane trial has been ruled out for Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, despite about 1000 cyclists riding over it in protest on Sunday.

A 47-year-old man was arrested after cyclists breached a police barrier and rode onto the bridge on Sunday.

The group Bike Auckland earlier called for one of the structure’s eight lanes to be allocated to cyclists for three months over summer, when traffic is at its quietest.

But Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesman Brett Gliddon said making traffic lanes on the Harbour Bridge available to cyclists in the short term was “not as simple as some advocates imply”.

About 1000 cyclists breached a police barrier and rode across the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Sunday.

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Auckland councillor Pippa Coom joined protestors in riding across the bridge, calling for a three-month trial of a cycle lane.

“The bridge was not designed for a walking and cycling function, and there are true and genuine safety and wider network issues that need to be worked through and balanced,” he said.

Two lanes on the Harbour Bridge were closed to cars during the protest.

“There are also significant impacts to the wider transport network when lanes of traffic are closed. This was proven last year when damage to a strut forced the closure of lanes and created widespread travel delays.”

Gliddon said ferries and buses could form part of the solution. Until they are developed, Waka Kotahi is not able to provide traffic lanes for walking and cycling, he said.

Councillor Pippa Coom is the deputy chairwoman of the Auckland Council’s environment and climate change committee. She joined protestors in riding over the bridge on Sunday, along with councillor Chris Darby.

“The trial will show what the impact on traffic is, and everywhere else in the world where you reduce traffic lanes and give people other options there isn't the congestion,” Coom said.

“To say that you've got to wait for a more permanent solution – that's going to be at least five years away. When we have to reduce our transport emissions by 62 per cent by 2030, can we really afford to wait five years?”

A spokesperson for Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said Goff did not approve of councillors riding across the bridge, but he supported the call for a high-quality walking and cycling path.

“Breaching the barrier was not an action that he would have taken, nor does he think it was productive in helping to achieve that objective,” the spokesperson said.

“The mayor strongly supports a cycling and walking path linking the city centre with the North Shore. This would have major benefits for Auckland including helping to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions, providing more choice in how Aucklanders move around the city, and creating a world-class tourism attraction.”

The Westhaven to Akoranga section of the Northern Pathway, formerly referred to as the SkyPath, was announced as part of Waka Kotahi’s New Zealand Upgrade Programme and has $360 million of funding.

The transport agency has been working on the project since 2020, assessing how to build a dedicated walking and cycling facility across the Waitematā harbour.

“The Government will make an announcement on the next steps for the project in the coming weeks. Waka Kotahi has provided advice to the Government to help facilitate their decision,” Gliddon said.

Police confirmed on Monday the 47-year-old man arrested during the protest has since been cautioned in relation to obstruction and resisting.