Street innovations challenge

The Council and the Global Designing Cities Initiative ran a design competition in 2024 seeking innovative new design ideas for cycleway separators for Wellington's streets.  

The competition was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI). The competition ran from mid-July to late September 2024. 

Cycleway separators and what they do 

Separators help define and provide physical separation between bike and traffic lanes. At their most basic, this can be a simple rubber or concrete strip or divider, sometimes incorporating flexible posts. 

The competition sought design ideas for a new form of cycleway separator that would be safe, flexible, durable, affordable and could relate in some way to Wellington’s landscape or character. 

Prize winners and next steps 

We received 21 entries. The winners were announced in December 2024. 

First prize 

Winning $5000, and a chance to see the design brought to life on Wellington streets. 

Entry from Archie Batchelor

This design uses strips of recycled rubber with reflective tape in a wave-like pattern. These can be secured to the road surface or existing concrete separators.  Depending on the situation, these could be installed in sections with gaps for driveways, crossing spots and places to move into or out of the bike lane. 

The separator was designed to be functional, affordable and adaptable. It was also designed to reflect Wellington’s unique identity – a city that is dynamic, and expresses movement through its natural elements and vibrant, creative spirit, defined through its arts and culture. 

Archie Batchelor – submission document (10MB PDF)

Second prize  

Winning $2500 

Flipper by Wraight + Associates 

The Wraight + Associates team: 

• Nicole Thompson 
• Diccon Round 
• Bryce Foster 
• Jessie Wrigglesworth 
• Luke Mayall 
• Hannah McKenzie 

Flipper is a duo of pre-cast concrete components designed to work in unison. The components can be arranged in a multitude of ways to provide visually-compelling bike path edge protection reminiscent of spiny reptiles, surfacing sea-creatures or abstracted river rock. 

Flipper – submission document (1.4MB PDF)

Third prize  

Winning $1000 

Entry from Maynard. 

The Maynard. team:

• Noor Alshafa  
• Jordan Henderson 
• Sam van der Weerden

Inspired by Tāwhirimātea’s winds over the Pōneke landscape, and the geology of the south coast, this design is a modular and adaptable system that can be made in concrete or rubber. 

Featuring natural rock-like and wind-swept forms, it celebrates the city’s wind, topography and geology, and is a reminder that riding in Wellington, there is a tail wind for every head wind, and a coast down after every climb. 

Maynard. – submission document (4.9MB PDF)

Special mentions  

Maunga by Wraight + Associates 

The Wraight + Associates team: 

• Nicole Thompson 
• Diccon Round 
• Bryce Foster 
• Jessie Wrigglesworth 
• Luke Mayall 
• Hannah McKenzie 

Inspired by Te Whanaganui-a-Tara's topography, Maunga displays some of Wellington's most recognisable hills, silhouetted against one another.

Seven unique forms can be arranged in countless combinations for a diverse street aesthetic and experience.

Maunga – submission document (2.1MB PDF)

Wobly by Zachariah Harrison

Wobly is a flexible bollard that has the ability to carry a range of playful  and useful modules. Its goal is to make the commute to work or grocery run a little bit more exciting while helping young or novice riders feel safe and welcome. 

Wobly’s modules can be mixed and matched to suit all kinds of environments, and easily rearranged as the road changes or for special events.

Wobly – submission document (2.1MB PDF)

Next steps 

As part of the project, some design ideas will be prototyped.  

This is expected to happen in 2025 following a process to refine and develop the winning design – or possibly more than one of the winning designs. Designers will have the chance to: 

• collaborate with local manufacturers to refine and create prototypes 
• work with the Council to review the prototype. 

The finalised prototype may be tested on one of our bike lanes. We’ll monitor its performance, checking for durability, safety, and community feedback. 

More information on the competition 

Contact us

For more information, email streetinnovationschallenge@wcc.govt.nz.