14 September 2017

Quay Street Cycleway hits 200,000 riders this year

Last night the Quay Street Cycleway counter reached 200,000 cycling journeys so far this year, showing that people are out on their bikes in large numbers despite a wet winter continuing on into spring.

The two-way, protected cycleway on the waterfront side of Quay St from Lower Hobson to Plumer St, has proved hugely popular. The 1km route is attracting a large number of commuters from the east and west as well as people cycling for recreation.

Councillor Chris Darby says, “Cycling is proving hugely popular with Aucklanders and the numbers just keep growing – in the last year, we’ve seen the equivalent of a full Mt Smart stadium - 45,000 people, take up cycling.

“Auckland Council is committed to supporting the bike-boom by giving Aucklanders the infrastructure they need to cycle to work, education and recreation. With even more developments planned, this number will continue to increase as people see the benefits of cycling to, from and around the city.”
Auckland Transport’s Manager for Walking, Cycling and Road Safety, Kathryn King says that the numbers using the cycleway are building as expected and that there is a lot more in the works.

“We know that people want protected infrastructure and that when we provide it, they come in big numbers. We are now building part of the connection between this route and the Nelson Street Cycleway and are consulting on the last section of the loop with plans to build it next year.

“When the whole loop around the city is finished, we will see even bigger numbers commuting by bike and also using the route for recreation. It’s going to be a great summer for Aucklanders who have taken up riding this year as we have so many more routes, like Quay Street, on the cycling map.”

NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland Director of Regional Relationships Peter Clark says it’s proud to be investing along with its partners, in great cycling infrastructure which is clearly helping to encourage more Aucklanders than ever before to get on their bikes.

“We want to create a city where people have safe, well connected and reliable transport choices, to help ease congestion and make Auckland a more liveable city, the Quay Street Cycleway is already doing this and there’s so much more to come.”
Cycling by numbers:

· Forty-five thousand people started riding in 2016 and there has been a 62 percent increase in all day cycle trips in the city centre since 2013.

· Bikes now make up 9.4 percent of inbound traffic via Upper Queen Street and there has been a 27 percent increase from 2015 along the Northwestern cycleway.

· Grafton Gully has seen a 34 percent increase and the Mt Roskill Shared Path has gone up 16 percent.

ENDS

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