A few Sundays ago, I enjoyed the last in the series of the 2010 Cycle Action Spring rides. The ride headed out West along the NW cycleway and finished in the beautiful Falls Park in the Waitakere City Centre. I really wished that this cycle path that runs beside the motorway was there when I was a kid, growing up in Te Atatu.
We had moved there from Mt Roskill and before moving, I had always been able to go every where I needed to on my trusty red single-speed. In hindsight I have realised what an awful mental and physical barrier a motorway is. That’s why it is imperative that NZTA and the Auckland Council get the Waterview connection right for the people who choose to walk, cycle and live in the community. You will be pleased to know that Cycle Action is fully engaged in this process.
The challenge for me on this ride was how to transport myself and teenage son from a Southern location across urban Auckland and safely to the start of the ride in Kingsland. The first part was easy. We trundled along the cycle path that runs parallel to SH 20. Unfortunately, the cycle path finishes abruptly at Sandringham Road onto high volume, high speed arterial roads.
I am used to this kind of thing. It’s amazing how over the years you just learn to adapt to the environment. It wasn’t so easy this time though. I had a young and relatively inexperienced rider with me. Sandringham Road suddenly became a more risky experience, particularly at the intersections and around parked cars. A number of motorists were not particularly forgiving either. Experiencing this kind of aggression makes me sad and angry in equal measure.
Cycling as an activity is easy and safe. There are enough positive examples here in Auckland and around the world to show how safe and easy it can be. Cycling in an environment of aggressive and unforgiving road users who seem to believe that they own the road is at the heart of the problem. It’s important to remember this. Cycling is safe and healthy. All effort should be put in to encouraging it. It is great at a personal and community level.
That’s why my bike and I will remain inseparable.
cycling/freedom
I'm from Thailand. Having been biking around Auckland for a few days and had a similar experience. Strangely, we have similar problem between motorcar and cyclist overthere in Thailand too. Hoping for the best of making Auckland a safer place for bicyclists to enjoy biking in every day life.
If you really want to see an improvement in the cycling environment in Auckland, I strongly encourage you to join Cycle Action.