Auckland Cycleway - Grafton Gully to Beach Road

The new Auckland bikeway was opened today.This bikeway connects the north western cycleway through Grafton Gully to Beach Road. The new bikeway is of a high standard which it should be given that it cost $11m and includes bike activated lights. However this expenditure palls into insignificance when compared to the $1.4b for the Waterview motorway extension. At the Beach road end the bikeway has been integrated well with the existing roads which is very encouraging. Those responsible for the implementation of the project should be congratulated for a job well done.
The Cycleway was opened by the Prime Minister John Key who advised those present that he also supports the cycleway across the harbour bridge which is good news if he is re-elected this month.
 

Beach Road cycleway

Grafton Gully Cycleway

Downhill

Uphill

Cycleway entrance at top

Cycle Touring - Rides Planned

There are still lots of New Zealand cycling routes to be covered in future posts. On thing about cycle tourists is that they are either just about to leave on a tour either in New Zealand or overseas or they are planning the next one.

1. Wairarapa - highlights to include ride over the Remutaka incline from Masterton along the Remutaka rail trail and returning via Days Bay and the Orongorongo station to Masterton.
2.  The South Island section of the ride to include the Rainbow Road to Hanmer and then the Molesworth station road on the return to Picton.

The Attractions of Cycle Touring

After deciding to go on a cycle tour there are two parts to the process both of which I find enjoyable. Firstly there is the planning of the route and finding out everything you need to know before commencing your journey. The goal when planning your ride is to find safe and interesting routes which if possible are well away from the main roads.

The second part is that when you are on the ride what you do each day is usually very flexible. In this way you can remove the need to be at a particular destination each night for booked accommodation. If you have to keep to your timetable this adds pressure and takes away from the possibility of changing your plans if you find an interesting place to spend more time in.

When you are cycle touring all you have is in your panniers so especially if you are camping you do not carry anything you do not need. The art of packing your panniers is important to a cycle tourist.

While you are always on the move when cycle touring you become well acquainted with the local topography and landscape in a way that is not possible in a car. You remember the hills but these are not to bad if you travel light and give yourself plenty of time. Food is your fuel so visiting cafes and cooking your meals each day are an enjoyable part of the ride as well as the odd glass of beer at the end of the day.

A question that is often raised is that cycle touring is to dangerous? In my view it is not dangerous if you plan your ride well and obey the laws of the road. On occasions you may have to get of your bike if you think it is unsafe and wait until for example the logging trucks have gone by.

In cycle touring there are classes of riders. You may be a cycle tourist who left your country two years ago and you are on your way around the world. On the other hand you may be doing the Otago rail trail and be doing only a few kilometres in a day. In both cases you will enjoy the freedom and challenges that cycle touring offers.

I started my rides a few years ago and I have enjoyed visiting towns especially in the rural areas all over New Zealand and I have a lot more territory to cover. As they say get on your bike!

Money for Cycleways

The New Zealand Prime Minister announced recently before the 2014 elections, that an additional $100 million is to be made available for cycleways over the next four years.
The Prime Minister in his announcement commented "that everyone knows the health and traffic benefits cycleways can deliver" It is great news that he and his Government think this way. It was my impression that the Government and the vast majority of the community are not aware of the benefits of cycleways to local communities.

In Auckland hopefully some of this money will be spent on the cycleway across the harbour bridge.
You only have to go to San Francisco to see the number of people out on their bikes crossing the Golden Gate bridge every day. This attraction boasts tourism and helps create a healthy and vibrant community which San Francisco is famous for.


In Auckland many citizens of Auckland see a cycleway across the harbour bridge as a project that would only benefit a few non tax paying pedestrians and cyclists. For this majority view to change will rely on the project being completed properly and not just as a cheap add on.

The new Oakland Bridge in San Francisco includes a integrated cycleway which is already very popular even though it only goes half way across the Bay until the second bridge is completed.

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route from Auckland Airport to Downtown

In common with many international airports assembling your bike and riding into the city is not easy as there is no dedicated bikeway into the city. It is 21.4 kilometres into the city from the International Air Terminal and you need to allow yourself plenty of time as the cycling route while interesting is fairly circuitous.
 
When you ride on the road out of the airport terminal there is an adequate shoulder to ride on but you must then take a secondary route because bikes are not allowed on the motorways. The route out to the airport is very popular with local cyclists as you can get out into the countryside alongside the Manukau Harbour. If this is your first experience of cycling in New Zealand traffic be aware that you need to take great care as motorists are not that aware or tolerant of cyclists on the roads.

One option if you do not want to stay in the city is to camp at Ambury park which is 8.1 kilometers from the airport. The facilities here are only for camping and the park is on the route into town.

Route to Ambury Park

http://regionalparks.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ambury/ambury-campground

As a cyclist you must abide by the rules of the road which are included in the road code:
New Zealand Road Code for Cyclists

The route into Auckland:

Cycling Route into Auckland

Cycling in Amsterdam

In New Zealand 77% of people get to work in a car rather than use public transport or cycle to work and as a result there are significant problems of road congestion and air pollution.

One of the solutions that is often touted is greater use of cycles. In Amsterdam 60% of travel in the inner city is by bike but with the large number of bikes on the roads and bikeways congestion has become a problem. There are to many bikes and not enough storage spaces in the city.

This is not going to happen any time soon in Auckland but careful planning is needed as cycling gets more popular to provide more bikeways and bike storage and to encourage the use of bikes for local travel and to also provide better pedestrian walkways that are segregated from the bikeways.

To reduce the reliance on the private motor vehicle we need to provide better public transport and provide improved pedestrian and cycling facilities. 

Advice on how to cycle in Amsterdam

Bikes in Amsterdam