Protected cycle lanes in New Plymouth? Have your say today!
Illustration: NPDC
Article written by North Taranaki Cycling Advocates.
New Plymouth District Council have received $17m in funding from Waka Kotahi to help make walking and cycling around our city easier and safer for our kids and everyone else around local schools. They've put together some designs, called the Mā Ake Let's Go: Your Way projects, which cover three key routes:
South Road/Devon St West (SH45) from Spotswood to Dawson Street in the city centre
Mangorei Road from Merrilands Shopping Centre to New Plymouth Girls High School on Mangorei Road
Breakwater Road/St Aubyn Street (SH44) from Ngāmotu Road in Moturoa to Liardet Street
And now it's our turn to show support for these exciting changes! The survey (npdc.govt.nz/yourway) closes on 21 August, so we don’t have long to get as many voices as possible joining the call for safe and connected cycle routes. We need your help to speak up for these transformational projects and show NPDC that we're ready for safe and modern streets for all modes of transport.
We think active transport is a really important tool to help shape a better future for our community, and if you think so and support it as well, please make a submission. You could make a big difference!
Illustration: NPDC
Why are safe active transport options important?
Active transport can take many forms: from cycling, scootering to simply walking and using public transport like buses. This kind of physical activity has many benefits: improving mental health, physical condition and reducing the risk of diseases like cardiovascular diseases and cancer. *
*Active commuting (walking or cycling) has been found to decrease cardiovascular risk by 11% [source: ehinz.ac.nz].
Active transport also has economic benefits for communities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, we could save $4.27 per km for each new walker, and $2.14 per km for each new cyclist, according to a 2008 transport cost-benefit analysis [source: ehinz.ac.nz].
Walking, biking, and bussing all come with fewer emissions than travelling in a personal vehicle, meaning that supporting active transport is also one of the most important things we can do to reduce our collective emissions. By offering safe and more sustainable options for getting around, everyone can be a part of taking action on climate and air pollution.
How to support the Mā Ake Let’s Go: Your Way Projects?
Find out more and complete the survey here: www.npdc.govt.nz/yourway
Check out our submission guide here: www.tinyurl.com/ntcayourway
Share this info with friends and family and encourage them to submit!
Speak to your submission in front of the council. (We can help you prepare if it's new for you!)
Join our Facebook community North Taranaki Cycling Advocates Group to keep up to date with this project and future proposals.
To get in touch with the North Taranaki Cycling Advocates group: north-taranaki-cycle-advocates@hotmail.com
