Wāhanga tūmahi: Te tūnuku me te āhua o te taone
Action area: Transport and urban form

In a 2014 survey, 76% of surveyed Wellingtonians said they would consider cycling if safe, separate infrastructure was provided.

Our Long-term Plan sets aside significant funding for cycleways infrastructure over the next 10 years, focused on creating a connected bike network throughout the city. The proposed outcome of this plan would see a cycle network of 147km, and greater connectivity across town.

In the first three years, we're working on transitional cycleways to support faster implementation of the final network.

Part of the bike network will connect into Te Ara Tupua, the Wellington to Hutt Valley cycling and walking link, being built by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

To support more people using bikes, we're also:

• increasing bike parking around the city
• working on shared pathways markings
• improving bike safety.

Find out more: Current transport projects

Shared micro mobility schemes like bike and e-scooter sharing are becoming more popular.

Not only can it be a quick and fun way to get around, but it introduces people to alternative transport options.

We are reviewing our micro mobility share schemes in the city to encourage more alternative transport, while also making sure pedestrians and other riders are safe.

We are also exploring options to promote safe e-bike storage and charging around the city.

Explore Low carbon transport

We’re exploring what’s needed to create a fossil-fuel-free City Centre by 2025.

Other cities around the world and in New Zealand have reduced city emissions and created more space for people instead of vehicles in the heart of their cities.

This work will be supported by Let’s Get Wellington Moving, the Golden Mile transformation, and other projects across the city.

We're working with partners across the city and region, including Greater Wellington Regional Council, to encourage the uptake of walking, biking and public transport. 

We have focused on sponsoring local events and community bike workshops, and supporting the local rollout of the Bikes in Schools programme.

We're working one on one with businesses, as that has been effective in other cities at shifting local business employees' travel habits to sustainable transport. 

We will also expand support for our schools travel programme.

The Council has created a fund targeted at businesses that want to encourage employees to actively commute to work. The fund can be used for workplace programmes, infrastructure, and services that encourage active commuting.

Apply for the fund: Active Transport Fund.

Wellington City Council works closely with Greater Wellington to support the region's goal of increasing public transport use through more efficient and affordable options.

Greater Wellington will make all buses electric by 2030, and commission at least 98 new electric buses by 2023. Their plan to reduce the carbon of the public transport network aligns with the work we are doing to improve transport through the Let's Get Welly Moving programme.

Find out more information about the Wellington Regional Public Transport Plan

Car sharing has grown in popularity across Wellington, with a 300% increase in membership since August 2019, to over 14,000 members.

This is great news for the city as car share vehicles are either new, low emissions vehicles, or completely electric.

We support this transport choice by providing car share parking spots.

Car sharing in Wellington

Wellington city has one of the highest electric vehicle (EV) ownership rates in New Zealand, and the number of EVs in the city is forecast to grow from 1,300 to over 7,500 by 2024. 

In Wellington, thousands of residents can't park their car on the property, meaning they would rely on public charging facilities.

Council is installing around 60 EV fast chargers across 30 locations in the city by 2025. There will be 15 chargers installed by June 2022.

This builds off the work we've already done in setting up 28 residential charging stations. 

Electric vehicles

The Government is looking at user charges to investigate the true cost of driving fossil-fuel vehicles and to help optimise road use between transport modes.

New legislation is being created to encourage travel efficient communities. This work creates a policy direction that encourages Councils to create cities that reduce greenhouse gases.

• Manatū Mō Te Taiao Ministry for the Environments' National Policy Statement on Urban Aevelopment.
• Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Urban Development Act.

Kiwis keep their cars longer than any country in the developed world, so what we’re buying now is critical for our tomorrow. 

Central Government has put in place a financial incentive to support the shift to zero-emissions vehicles. This could also extend to more than just cars, as electric bikes, mopeds, and micro mobility options are often a more cost-effective way to transition to electric transport.

Find out more about the government's electric vehicles programme.