It's time to write a new 'history of cycling' for Auckland.
It was not surprising to read the level of negative response to the ‘Cycling Defined‘ post. It’s not helpful to pigeon hole cyclists by their riding style. The post was intended as a reflection of Auckland’s fledgling cycling culture and its inablility to make any significant gains into the hearts and minds of everyday people.
Of course cycling in Auckland is becoming more visible but it would be safe to say it’s still hovering around a 1% modal share. Perhaps…does Auckland Transport have this data? If not, why not? And while the speed of uptake seems to be increasing, in reality, it’s happening at glacial speed.
So what is the best way to speed up the increase in the number of people in Auckland choosing to cycle?
Start by gathering evidence from the rest of the world. From cities that have successful cycling cultures. This would allow us to see large numbers of ordinary people on upright bicycles, wearing ordinary clothes, going about their everyday tasks, like it’s normal and easy. That’s what Auckland should be striving to copy. If cycling looks easy and casual it will lead to even more people on their bikes.
Secondly, look at cycling through the eyes of a 10 year old school child, of a teenage girl, of a middle-aged woman. Widen the target demographic. These people won’t ride like a ‘motor vehicle’ in ‘hi viz’.
And to make cycling more attractive means there is a need to make the use of the private motor vehicle less attractive. A cycling environment/culture suitable for this target demographic will only be created when we are prepared to confront the ‘Death Star‘ head on.
Certainly, there are barriers to increasing cycling in Auckland. There is a low urban density that we have inherited and a lack of a European sensibility that treats bicycle travel as perfectly ordinary. That reinforces the need to be systematic and intentional.
There is a cargo bike full of local and international evidence that shows us why cycling is the first transport choice in an increasing number of cities around the world. The bicycle is typically the fastest and most convenient way to travel.
We need to create an environment and culture that makes it possible for a larger catchment of people to choose the bicycle. And we need to find out what it would take to get ordinary people to take up cycling. Those people do exist. They are waiting to be converted. Selling cycling should be as easy as taking candy from a baby.
While the image of cycling in Auckland is predominantly one of sweat, sports, speed and hi viz jackets, a barrier to the wider adoption of cycling will remain.
It’s time for a new approach. It’s time to sell a brand of cycling that is easy, comfortable and convenient.
Cycling. It’s as easy as walking, but faster….
I think you miss one important point here, it is not about sweat and speed or flouro. One thing that I realise in NZ is that cycling is recognised by most people as a dangerous activity. 20 years of a helmet law have done a good job on this. A related problem is your insurance system. If I accidently hit another person on the road with my car, ACC will cover and no consequences. In Europe you premium will go up like hell, especially if you hit a more vulnerable road user, so there is a real incentive to be extra carefull on the road.
I am commuting everyday to work, and honestly commuting is about getting from A to B as quick as possible. I wouldn go 30 km/h on the road with a car just for the happyness and the fun of driving to work. So blaming it on sweat and speed seems silly to me.
I agree with comments about the negative effect of the helmet law and the insurance system. While those issues are ignored, cycling will not be very attractive to the mainstream population. It makes cycling more risky especily for people who are not confident about cycling.
It doesn't help that by European standards we have cheap cars (registration, tax etc), cheap petrol and cheap parking.
Auckland is largely warm, hilly and cyclists are few so not expected by motorists. My experience commuter cycling in Europe for two years was that it is largely flat, coolish and cyclists were everywhere so motorists know where to look for them. I agree that flouro's, helmets and sweat are barriers to cycling in NZ. The climate and hills are not going to change, so I believe it is the perception of danger that we should focus on. The media carries responsibility for much of this. When cycling is perceived as less dangerous, maybe then the helmet laws might be relaxed.
Most of teh people I know who have tried and given up cycling in Auckland are women. None of them cycled in flouros. The reason they gave up was because they found cycling in Auckland scary because it IS because the govt is not prepared to pay for the infrastructure we need to make it safer.
Until you can get more funding for cycling infrastructure I don't think it matters at all what cyclists wear. It's not the image that is the problem right now – it's the reality
Also, the research I have seen suggests that after the first 1% (who are the hardcore cyclists) the next 7% are kind of eager but cautious. These are the people who will use their bikes to commute, who don't really care aobut the broader perception that much because cycling fits with their self image…The ones that vote Green, care about the env etc…. It's the 66% after that who want sit up bikes and perfectly flat roads. But since we're absolutely nowhere getting those people, why not focus on the 7% who are really quite keen?
I completely agree with you Lucy. Even getting showers and bike racks in where I work has encouraged 6 more people to cycle to work including tow women. We have been working to build infrastructure for 10 years in Mt Roskill where we now have a significant network of off road cycle paths. Supporting School Travel Plans is another good idea as this bring good money to make the surrounding streets safer for walkers and cyclists. There is still time to submit to the Auckland Council on the spatial plan
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/PlansPoliciesPublications/theaucklandplan/Pages/haveyoursay.aspx
You might still be able to submit suggestions to your local Board. At Mt Roskill (Puketapapa) our officers have told us we must get everything in by the end of this week.
Getting infrastructure in is a very slow process and requires much persistence. We have an election later this year, asking each candidate (at public meetings) what they will do to increase cycling infrastructure could give you an indication on who to vote for.
I don't have a good feel yet as to how committed Auckland Transport is to cycling. CAA have been making good progress in lobbying them about establishing a regional cycling network. They are releasing the plan soon for the upgrade of Dominion Rd, that might give an indication of where their priorities are.
The point being missed I think is that cycling does not have to be sweaty and hard. That's for sports and commuter cyclists. And that's the image that is currently the default setting in Auckland and the image that the media present. A valid type of cycling that seems to be ignored in Auckland (but is common in cities with successful cycling cultures) is the short local trip. The utility cyclist. These types of trips are done on comfortable bikes and dont need specialised equipment or showers etc. Infrastructure such as suitable parking would help encourage these people but so would alot of other less expensive changes. Speed reduction and a general shift to developing a transport culture of 'people first' would make a significant impact. These changes and improvements would be where Lucy's 7% are…school children, trips to the shops, library etc. Make cycling less scary does not have to be all about infrastructure. It's a cultural thing too.
According to the Bike Coordinator of Portland the '7% of eager but cautious' formed the critical part of bike advocacy that was required to move bicycling into the mainstream. Now, 20 years later, Portland is trying to attract the 8 to 80 yr old crowd. I'm afraid we in Auckland are trying to leapfrog the basic infrastructure requirements (bike racks, bike lanes, safe intersections) for pie-in-the-sky projects like bike lanes on the harbour bridge, or separated facilities in very urban areas. I agree with LucyJH the focus should be on the 7% for now.
I agree totally
New Auckland cycle counts have been done in March, and are to be released by AT in about May.
That will give us the data ecompared to last year (where we had 27% growth!) and I am hopeful that the growth has in fact increase, even in percentage terms.
The actual modal share (i.e. whether Auckland has significantly risen about 1% of the commuter share yet) is based on Census data – and that Census was cancelled due to Christchurch earthquake. So it may be a while before we get updates on that.
"I'm afraid we in Auckland are trying to leapfrog the basic infrastructure requirements (bike racks, bike lanes, safe intersections) for pie-in-the-sky projects like bike lanes on the harbour bridge"
Ahem, the Northwestern Cycleway could have been considered one of those projects, yet now it is one of our busiest cycling routes. It's not EITHER / OR, it is both. We need a couple of flagship projects, and lost of small, incremental changes. Cycle Action is busy on both, and to their credit, so are AT and NZTA (though of course we keep badgering them for more and more…).
If you consider some of these projects "pie in the sky", then remember that without Britomart (another "too big, too early" project, the rail renaissance in Auckland might never have happened. Sometimes you need in your face improvements to get people to change their thinking.
Can't seem to edit my previous post. Of course I meant "lots" of small incremental changes.
A 27% increase sounds big but it is on a very small base. The 1% modal share figure is perhaps more significant. It is next to nothing. Encouraging a few new people to cycle regularly is not a revolution. Infrastructure takes ages to be built. what is beeing done by the council in the meanwhile to get more people cycling?
Reizar,
Auckland Transport is having a "City Bike Day" on 12th May 2011, 7:30am to 10:30am in Aotea Square. Free muffin, juice and coffee.
The are giving away 'safety packs and high visibility gear'.
The email I received discusses how cyclists 'need' to wear high visibility gear in the day and reflective at night. this has been much discussed on the site, so was just letting you know what the bent of the event is about. Up to the reader as to whether it's for them or not, no need to discuss again lol.
I will be there, hope some of you others will be!
Other things the council/someone is doing include bike to work month, the Bike to Work breakfast, there are also the "Bike Jam" events for kids.
Mostly these sorts of things are promoted in the local papers and Council mailouts, council website, Auck Transport website. I guess I just keep an eye out for cycling related info.
And P.s. it was dissapointing to see no copy space provided to cycling as an alternative when the petrol prices were over $2.19 recently. Only saw articles on selling more scooters to spend less on petrol.
Surely this would have been a good time to get in the papers and reporters ears and promote cycling/utility cycling as the cheap and fun alternative to driving?
But alas..
NZTA/Auckland Transport have been advised by a review board to build an $8m cycleway from Owairaka to Waterview – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10724374
the problem with census data is that up to and including 2006 (I'm pretty sure) it lumped walking and cycling together
the 2011 forms (I just checked) have them separate
one irony was that a lot of farmers walk to work and the highest concentration of walking to work was in the prisons!
@Jim,
Giving away safety gear doesnot fill one with confidence that the council has a strong desire to promote cycling. A city with a strong cycling cultuyre doesnt need hi viz, im afraid.
@Steve C
Thanks for the clarification. The council currently has no real data to claim the real # of cyclilsts…
Reizar,
You're probably right. Just let you know that there were some events being held, and my other post about Owairaka cycleway illustrates further that they are doing something, rather than nothing at all.
Ideological separation from your view notwithstanding lol.