Wellington about to embark on cycleways through heart of city
Tuesday, 23 December 2025
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The Wellington City Council is about to embark on what could be its toughest cycleway project so far – multiple routes through the heart of the city.
The next phase of the Paneke Pōneke network is either the cornerstone uniting the city’s various cycle routes, another blow to struggling central city businesses, or a cocktail of the two – depending on who is talking.
Councillors were recently told that consultation on the “cross‑city bike connections” would begin in early 2026. One route would run along Bunny St and the harbour quays to Cable St, and another along Featherston St and Victoria St. A third would follow Courtenay Place and Dixon St before joining the Victoria St cycleway.
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The routes were signed off in 2022 as part of the Paneke Pōneke Wellington Bike Network Plan and the decision to do the cross-city routes was made in the council’s last long-term plan. The first stage is focused on Bunny St, with consultation early in 2026.
The Post previously reported the citywide bike network would mean the loss of 1651 on-street car parks and $1.85 million a year in lost parking revenue.
Pukehīnau/Lambton ward councillor Geordie Rogers said the cross-city links connected the existing suburban bike lanes into the city.
Cycling had increased 18% since Paneke Pōneke, and some routes had seen growth of up to 87%, he said.
“The missing heart of the network is through the city centre. Right now, people are opting to use the shared path along the waterfront which can be dangerous for pedestrians,” he said.
“A connected route through the city will increase safety for all Wellingtonians.
“Cycling is a low-cost way to get around the city. The council needs to be doing everything it can to enable people to make cheaper, low-carbon journeys.”
Motukairangi/Eastern ward councillor Karl Tiefenbacher, who owns central city businesses, said Wellington already had a number of contentious cycleways but the cross-city links would have the “biggest impact on getting around the city”.
Wellington had already experienced a “massive negative” from cycleways, he said, citing lost car parks and the flow‑on effects for businesses
“We need an integrated transport plan that ensures the impact on all modes of transport and businesses are considered in unison,” he said.
“A healthy city needs transport options for all and, as such, we need to reconsider our current plans as they focus on individual modes to the detriment of others.”
Pukehīnau/Lambton ward councillor Afnan Al-Rubayee said each stage of the cycle routes through the city would go to public consultation and it was vital that feedback was listened to, right through to the decision-making process.
It was important that all modes of transport – from walking to cycling to bus to private car – were considered, she said.
Cycle Wellington spokesperson Patrick Morgan said the city bike lanes would become “the essential missing link in the city’s cycle network”.
He didn’t know the details of the plans but expected the cycle lanes would be physically separated from traffic rather than simply painted on the road
The loss of some car parks or car lanes would be unavoidable along some of the planned routes.
“Change is always hard,” he said.
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