Northwestern Cycleway sees most bike riders yet

Thursday, 14 January 2016

Cyclist Viv Heslop preferred mode of transport to get to work is biking along the Norhwestern Cycleway.

More people than ever are cycling to the city from the west.

Cycling increased by 16 per cent along the Northwestern Cycleway in 2015 compared to 2014.

The number of people expected to use cycling as their chosen mode of transport is expected to increase further with major upgrades to be completed this year and with the expansion of the city centre cycle network.

Cyclist Viv Heslop uses the Northwestern Cycleway to get to work.

'I live in Mt Albert and work in Westhaven. I could take the bus which would take me 40 minutes or cycle, which takes me 30 minutes,' she says.

'It's also a great way to build exercise into my day. The Northwestern Cycleway is fantastic. The more cycleways in Auckland the better.'

The NZ Transport Agency is upgrading the Northwestern Cycleway from Westgate to Waterview as part of the Western Ring Route roading project.

This year sees the completion of large sections of the cycleway from McCormack Green, west of the Te Atatu underpass, to Henderson Creek, as well as the Te Atatu Interchange project and the Causeway project.

The Northwestern Cycleway is one of the busiest cycle routes in Auckland, Auckland Transport's cycling and walking manager Kathryn King says.

'We know that these routes are popular which is why they are being improved and soon other routes will connect with them to further develop the cycle network,' she says.

As far as inner city construction goes, the Quay St Cycleway will get underway and mid year it will be completed and connected to the Nelson St Cycleway.

It is part of a three year $200m programme of cycle improvements.

'By mid-2018 we will have an inner city cycle network to be proud of with great connections to the inner east and west suburbs. We are already working on plans for projects beyond 2018 which will further develop the city's growing network of cycleways,' she says.

The Northwestern Cycleway connects with the Nelson St Cycleway as well as the Grafton Gully Cycleway.

The NZ Transport Agency has a target of increasing the annual number of cycling trips across New Zealand by 10 million, or 30 per cent by 2019 compared with 2015 levels.