The Vibrant Streets Programme for Auckland
Active-mode projects aimed at reducing transport emissions and improving road safety are being rolled out across the Auckland region, as part of the council’s Ngā Tiriti Ngangahau - The Vibrant Streets Programme.
The new $3 million, three-year programme, which will be delivered by Auckland Transport (AT), is one of the climate action initiatives agreed in the council’s 10-year Budget.
The seven projects, which were endorsed at the council’s March Environment and Climate Change committee, will be delivered outside of the city centre and will use trials, temporary infrastructure changes, education programmes and other complementary initiatives to encourage uptake of walking, cycling and micro-mobility.
Environment and Climate Change committee Deputy Chair Councillor Pippa Coom says the programme is a small step forward on our journey to achieving our transport emission reduction and road safety goals.
“The projects that have been endorsed as part of the Ngā Tiriti Ngangahau - The Vibrant Streets (previously known as Regional Streets for People) programme are all aimed at making it easier and safer for locals to use alternative methods to get around their neighbourhoods, and encouraging, for example, riding bikes to school instead of driving.
“While we know that we need large-scale systemic change if we want to see zero deaths on our roads and dramatically reduce our transport emissions, enabler programmes such as these all help to make up the bigger picture, and have the potential to have a massive impact on how we do things in the future.
“Getting out of our cars is not only better for the environment but it’s better for our health too, so if we can encourage locals to embrace these projects and try a new way of getting around, it really will be a win-win for their communities.”
The endorsed projects seek to benefit the whole Auckland region, from Bayswater in the north to Papakura in the south, Glen Eden in the west and Pakuranga in the east.
The projects also range in scale, from installing semi-permanent cycleways, to hosting community events that raise awareness of active modes (cycling, scooters and walking), providing access and skills training for e-bikes, to implementing community-run ‘Bike Hubs”.
You can see more about the initiative here.