Cities100: Auckland - Bike Network Given Priority in City Center

Auckland has recognized cycling as a key component of the low-carbon approach to transforming the way we travel and is working to integrate cycling as a 'one network' solution alongside public transport.

The Challenge

Auckland has identified transport as the first of key transformation areas, as it accounts for 39% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions. Lowering these emissions will help Auckland reach its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 10% to 20% by 2020 and 40% by 2040.

The Solution

To tackle greenhouse gas emissions from transport, Auckland launched a City Centre Cycle Network program that provides a high-quality cycling experience for all Aucklanders. The city center is the most densely populated in the region and has the largest concentration of jobs: more than 230,000 people live within a 30-minute bike ride of the center, where more than 156,000 jobs are located. The city plans to build 52 km of separated cycleways by 2018. Already, after building the first seven km of cycleways, the city has experienced a steep increase of people cycling. Auckland has turned an old motorway off-ramp into a colorful new walking and cycleway. The path reached 100,000 bicycle trips just 118 days after it opened. Retrofitting the ramp signals, the city is seeing a paradigm shift from one of polluting travel to restorative travel; a clear statement of changed values. By 2020, Auckland aims for a 5% cycling mode share and by 2030, to be the 'mode of choice' alongside walking and public transport.

Environmental Benefits – Noise, air, and water pollution are significant problems in Auckland, all of which the cycling network will alleviate.

Social Benefits – By designing streets for people, and not cars, the city enables greater social connection, ultimately making it a more desirable place to live.

Economic Benefits – Auckland-based research has shown that people who cycle are also more likely to buy local goods compared to people using other transport modes, meaning the project helps strengthen the local economy while simultaneously saving travel costs.

Health Benefits – The project will target the direct and indirect costs of physical inactivity, which are valued at $292 million and contribute to 73 deaths per year in Auckland.

About Cities100

Presented by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Sustainia and Realdania – Cities100 2017 showcases leading solutions to urban climate challenges in five sectors: Energy, Waste, Adaptation, Mitigation and Transportation.

Available online and in print, Cities100 provides stakeholders an accessible format to explore achievable solutions for climate action in cities, and will be a useful tool for relevant groups ranging from impact investors and development organizations, to mayors and city governments. You can access the full Cities100 2017 publication online here.