Nelson Street Cycleway Stage 2 opens

Bike riders are already enjoying stage two of the Nelson Street Cycleway, giving them a safe, direct route through the city centre to the viaduct.

The project, which is largely completed, goes from Victoria Street to Pakenham Street East, safely through the Fanshawe Street intersection. These works include a separated northbound cycle lane and a southbound separated cycle lane and shared path, which are clearly marked and separated from vehicles. The Fanshawe Street intersection includes new signals for bike riders.

Auckland Transport’s Walking, Cycling and Road Safety Manager Kathryn King says this project will help people who ride bikes to safely travel to the viaduct, downtown, and Wynyard Quarter.

“This section is a small but very significant link in our city centre cycle infrastructure and this project will really benefit bike riders who travel to and from the viaduct.One of the biggest challenges for bike riders is large intersections, and Nelson Street Stage 2 will allow people to cross the busy Fanshawe St intersections safely.”

The project also includes improvements along Pitt Street, including a shared path between Beresford Square and Hobson Street along with cycle crossings at the Vincent Street and Hopetoun Street intersection.

Auckland Council’s Cycling Champion, Councillor Chris Darby, says he is pleased with the progress in the city centre.

“More and more people are riding bikes around the region – last year, 46,000 people – the equivalent of a full Mt Smart Stadium, took up cycling. It’s important that we connect up our cycling network to make these trips safer and easier, so that even more people can join the bike revolution,” he says.

“The completion of Nelson Street Stage 2 means we are well on our way to having an entire loop around the city centre that is separated for bike riders. I look forward to more progress next year, when stage 3 to connect Market Place from Pakenham Street East to the Quay Street Cycleway gets underway.”

The Nelson Street Cycleway is being delivered by Auckland Transport, through the Urban Cycleways Programme.

Peter Clark, Acting Regional Relationships Director for the NZ Transport Agency, welcomes the new addition to Auckland’s cycling network.

“This extension to the Nelson Street cycleway is a key component in our work, bringing safer and more convenient connections into the city centre and neighbouring suburbs, and helping us create a more bike-friendly future for Auckland.”

Watch Councillor Chris Darby and Kathryn King talk more about the project here.

Travel to the Lightpath Festival

You can try out the new section of cycleway for yourself on your way to Barfoot and Thompson’s Lightpath Festival this Saturday 2 December. The festival, organised by Bike Auckland and proudly supported by Auckland Transport, is celebrating the second birthday of Te Ara I Whiti – The Lightpath.

If you’re travelling from Britomart or the Downtown Ferry Terminal, the Nelson Street Cycleway is a great route to take directly to ride up to the festivities. Travel from Quay Street through the viaduct to Market Place, and get on the Nelson Street Cycleway by Pakenham Street East – follow the pink signs.

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