Rolling out more of the green carpet on World Car Free Day

The 2 kilometre connection makes it safer and easier for more people to travel by bus and bike from the heart of Newtown to the heart of the city.

Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon says: “Our street spaces make up the majority of our public spaces, and we want to make these about people – opening them up for people and children walking, using mobility aids or wheelchairs, riding bikes, and using public transport.

“We’ve already seen a 93 percent increase in people riding bikes past the Basin Reserve with the new two-lane bike route on Kent and Cambridge Terraces. These changes are not just about commuters – we’ve seen kids riding in places we would have never seen before – kids riding with their parents, riding independently, and riding to school.”

Newtown to city is one of the city’s busiest bus routes, and a key corridor for the bus priority action plan – with public transport delays throughout the day, not just peak hours. 

Extending the bus lane hours and improving bus stop placements along the route is making bus journeys more reliable and giving Wellingtonians a better option to get around without having to rely on cars.

These street changes were made using a new adaptive approach, which means further tweaks can be made to the street layout in response to data and community feedback.

Some changes have already been made during installation in response to how people have been finding the new layout, including: 

·         adjusting the bike lane position on Riddiford Street heading south to the Mein Street intersection

·         reinstating the signalised right-turn from Adelaide Road into Hospital Road

·         improving the lane markings at the John Street intersection for people on bikes

·         lengthening the right-turn bay on Cambridge Terrace for people turning into Elizabeth Street. 

People wanting to share their experience using the new street layout can give feedback on the Newtown to City project over the next two months – once they have had the opportunity to try it out and adjust to the changes.

This adaptive approach is now being used across the city to deliver Paneke Pōneke, our plan for a citywide connected bike network and improvements for pedestrians and public transport. Street changes are now under way in Kilbirnie, Thorndon, Ngaio and Aro Valley. 

People can also have their say now on proposed street changes for Berhampore to Newtown, which would complete the route between the city and the south coast, and Karori to Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. This consultation is open until 5pm, Sunday 8 October. 

Visit transportprojects.org.nz for more information about how we’re making changes to provide safer and easier options to walk, bike or bus so more of us can get around our compact city in climate friendly ways.