PM John Key during the Quay Street cycleway opening ceremony. Auckland Mayor Len Brown, ACC Minister Nikki Kaye, Transport Minister Simon Bridges and MP for Te Atatu Alfred Ngaro were also present.

Quay Street cycleway opens to public

Thursday, July 14, 2016 IWK Bureau

With Prime Minister John Key, Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Transport Minister Simon Bridges riding on the bikes, the Quay Street cycleway was officially opened on July 8.

Despite bad weather, attendees seemed quite enthusiastic about the CBD’s newest cycleway, worth $2.18m.

The opening ceremony started with a dawn blessing by Iwi representatives. After formal addresses from Mr Key and Mr Bridges, the chief guests along with a large group of people rode their bicycles to become the first to use the cycleway, which is expected to turn into a coastal boulevard over the next 10 years.

Auckland’s waterfront will be an improved urban space and an even busier cycle route. A new cycle counter on the promenade, a first for Auckland, will highlight the number of people cycling along one of Auckland busiest routes.

On the waterfront side of Quay St, the one km, two-way cycleway goes from Princes Wharf at Lower Hobson St to Plumer St. The cycleway is being delivered by Auckland Transport and has local funding and an investment from the government through NZ Transport Agency and the Urban Cycleways Programme.

Auckland Transport’s Cycling and Walking manager Kathryn Kind says that it will benefit everyone who spends time at the waterfront and will encourage more people to start cycling into the city centre.

“Having a dedicated cycleway like this means there is more space on the promenade for people to walk and enjoy the harbour views. The planter boxes, which provide protection from traffic, improve this wonderful space by adding some greenery.

“The cycle route into the city centre along Tamaki Drive is the busiest route in Auckland, and this will make cycling from the east even more attractive. Providing a protected cycleway on Quay St gives people working in the downtown area greater travel choice and an excellent cross-town route that avoids a lot of city traffic.”

Mayor Len Brown says it is another important chapter in his vision for Auckland as the world’s most liveable city as it transforms the city centre into a pedestrian and cycle friendly destination.

“This project is another example of Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and the Transport Agency working well together to achieve a great outcome.”

The three-metre-wide cycleway connects with the Beach Rd Cycleway at Britomart Pl and by the end of 2018 will link with the Nelson St Cycleway and Westhaven to City Cycleway at Princes Wharf and the Tamaki Dr Cycleway. When phase two of Nelson St Cycleway is constructed next year, the city centre cycle loop will be complete. This loop includes Lightpath, Nelson St, Grafton Gully, Beach Rd and Quay St cycleways.

Auckland Transport is working with project partners Auckland Council and the government through the NZ Transport Agency and the Urban Cycleways Programme on a $200m programme of cycle improvements from 2015 to 2018.