Mayor Phil Goff and Minister of Transport Phil Twyford officially opened the Seabrook Avenue Cycleway with a celebration at New Lynn School.
The project, which connects residential New Lynn to the town centre, improves safety at intersections along Seabrook Avenue and provides a safe, separated space for people on bikes.
The new cycleway also connects to the existing shared path at New Lynn School, giving children and parents more safe options to travel during school times. Mayor Phil Goff says, "We need more kids on bikes and more Aucklanders choosing to cycle rather than travel by car."
"The Seabrook Avenue cycleway delivers to New Lynn a segregated cycleway that will ensure the safety of pupils who cycle to local schools and encourage more people to cycle rather than drive.
"Cycling used to be the dominant mode of transport for kids to get to school, but safety issues and a historical lack of investment now see it account for less than 3 per cent of journeys to schools in Auckland.
"I want to see cycling return to Auckland's schools. It's a healthy and environmentally friendly way to get around.
"Our investment in safe and separated cycleways will deliver more safe and separated cycleways in Auckland and give parents peace of mind that their children are better protected getting to and from school on their bikes," says Mayor Phil Goff.
The NZ Transport Agency's Director of Regional Relationships Steve Mutton says the cycleway is a great addition to Auckland's growing cycle network.
"The Transport Agency, on behalf of the Government, is prioritising make cycling safer and more accessible, integrating cycle paths with broader transport networks and significantly increasing funding for infrastructure, all to encourage more New Zealanders to get on their bikes," he says.
New Lynn School's Travelwise Lead Teacher, Jo-Anna Crosby, says it is a great addition for the local area. "Our school encourages our school community to walk and cycle, and we are always happy to see safety improvements – such as this cycleway – which enable our families to make those choices," says Crosby.
Auckland Transport's Manager Walking, Cycling and Road Safety, Kathryn King, says the new cycleway and intersection improvements will improve safety for everyone.
"The new raised tables at a number of intersections will slow vehicles, making it safer for people walking. The separated cycleway that connects to the existing shared path also gives people another way to get to New Lynn town centre safely," she says.
"As well as connecting to our public transport network, people riding bikes will have even more options in the future as more of our cycling network is developed around New Lynn.
"The Seabrook Avenue Cycleway is a great local connection and a significant safety improvement for surrounding streets." The project is funded as part of NZTA's Urban Cycling Programme and delivered by Auckland Transport.
The Seabrook Avenue Cycleway and intersection improvements include:
A shared path that starts at Willerton Avenue, alongside Lawson Park and ends at 58 Seabrook Avenue.
From 58 Seabrook Avenue, people on bikes transition to a new two-way cycleway to Margan Avenue. The cycleway connects to the existing shared path along Margan Avenue and Rankin Avenue to the town centre.
Intersection improvements include raised intersections, improved lighting, speed tables and better crossings for people walking or cycling along Seabrook Avenue.
