Ak City Transport Committee deletes walking projects
Public Forum.
Councillors, ladies and gentlemen.
I am Andy Smith chairman of Walk Auckland a pedestrian advocacy group associated with Living Streets Aotearoa.
First I would like to commend the committee on its decision to investigate reducing the speed in Queen st to 30kmph. It will make the area more pedestrian friendly.
Walk Auckland and Cycle Action Auckland are upset that this committee is thinking of reducing and dumping some W&C projects.
Footpath upgrades. Auckland ratepayers have waited a long time to get the maintenance that the footpaths need. Old folks are tripping and breaking bones, people are being tipped from wheelchairs at curb cuts yet you intend to spend $7 million less next year. Not a good idea.
Point England’s Liveable streets project is deleted after a small amount is spent. This project is about people and how they live. Overseas projects like this have proved a boon for communities and yet you will delete this project.
School transport safety initiative cut in half for 2 years as children are run down getting to school, not a good idea.
Cycleway and walkway improvements to be cut in the future. The more people who walk and cycle the better for transport congestion, health, obesity is reduced and people are happier for it. Again, cut something else like roading.
Civic bus station improvements. You are being asked to delete this. Yet people on buses reduces congestion and that helps Auckland become a pleasant place to live.
I feel that Walking and Cycling projects are being cut as they are seen as an soft target.
No walking is the universal form of transport and owing to the health and mental health benefits should be encouraged not deleted.
Please think again and question the APDS recommendation to defer and delete walking and cycling projects.
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