ARTA Annual Report 2009 - Auckland Transport

Cycle maps and seasonal campaigns
During the warmer months, ARTA encouraged people to hop on their bikes and get out and about.
The season of sustainable travel began in October with the re-launch of RoadSafe Auckland’s ‘Hey, we’re
all the same on the road’ campaign. This campaign, supported by ARTA, aimed to promote road safety
and awareness as the number of people cycling in the region began to increase with the temperatures.
An evaluation of the campaign indicated strong support for future regional campaigns.
In December, ARTA launched a comprehensive set of five regional cycle maps that allow cyclists to navigate
their own routes around the region. The maps provide a complete inventory of dedicated cycle infrastructure
along with recommendations of Cycle Action Network cyclists on the best choice of local streets for cycling.
The project was sponsored by the Ministry of Health and includes a panel on the health benefits of cycling.
To date, more than 47,000 of the maps have been distributed and digital versions are now available to
download from maxx.co.nz. The cycle maps project is being evaluated, and a project to produce cycle maps
for Waiheke Island and Orewa/Whangaparaoa is being scoped.
Google cycle maps for North Shore are also available through the MAXX website. This high-tech project
was developed by Cycle Action Auckland. The maps are designed to integrate cycling with public transport
options, as well as detail cycle parking and safety information. ARTA will work with Cycle Action Auckland
to extend the Google maps throughout the region.
National BikeWise Week was expanded from one week to a whole month this year, and was embraced
throughout the Auckland region in February. Hundreds of local organisations competed in the national Bike
Battle during the course of the month, with employees trying to collectively cycle as many kilometres as
possible. In addition, local events organised by councils and cycling advocate groups included cycling lessons
for beginners, kids’ bike rides and mayoral challenges.
The pinnacle of the extravaganza was Go by Bike Day, on which a number of highly successful breakfast
events treated over 1,500 of Auckland’s cyclists to a free breakfast. Additionally, Auckland played host to
the Urgent Couriers Commuter Challenge in which celebrities took part to pit bikes against buses and cars,
an event which saw the cyclist reign supreme.
A further cycling-related project under way is to produce regional cycle design guidelines to standardise
cycle road markings and signage throughout Auckland.
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