Te Ara I Whiti – The Lightpath 10th Birthday

I was a bit late for the party, and related celebrations, but rode it the following weekend:

Ten years of Te Ara I Whiti, Auckland’s Lightpath - Bike Auckland

When Bike Auckland challenged the transport agencies and Auckland Council to turn a disused motorway off-ramp into a path for people to walk, wheel, and bike, they didn’t expect that less than a year later, they would be cycling along a new Auckland icon: Te Ara I Whiti, the Lightpath. Ten years on, we’re celebrating the impact the Lightpath has had.

Bike AucklandSue Cardwell

Auckland’s ‘symphony’ cycle path plays out 10th anniversary - Inside Government NZ

Auckland’s Te Ara I Whiti – The Lightpath, which hosted 240,000 cycling trips last year and nearly two million in total, will celebrate its 10th anniversary tomorrow. Auckland Councillor and Deputy Chair of the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Delivery Committee, Shane Henderson said Te Ara I Whiti was appreciated as much for its uniqueness as […]

Inside Government NZKelly Nealon

So good, but also a bit sad

Unfortunately, Te Ara I Whiti – The Lightpath shared path is also a demonstration of the neglect of alternative mode infrastructure.

Although still functional the decade old reality is faded path with 'view' panels so filthy there is almost no view. It really needs some love to restore its iconic pinkness and those amazing harbour views.

I ride it regularly, as part of my hybrid commute and weekends, but got some confused responses when queried Auckland Council about maintenance. Seems it is a mix of Council and NZTA (State Highway) responsibilities, so seems nobody does anything.

I'm not alone in this view:

Lightpath and the Lost Decade: Super-city or Slumber-city? - Greater Auckland

This guest post is by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport. Te Ara I Whiti, or Lightpath, uploaded for royalty-free use by Dan Freeman in 2017. I’ve seen it on the home page of corporate conferences and … Continued

Greater AucklandGuest Post

Some new neighbours

In happier news it does have some new neighbours.

This new path, part of the Karang-a-hape CRL station works has separated cyclists from pedestrians on the Canada Street link from Upper Queen Street to Te Ara I Whiti – The Lightpath resolving existing conflict in an area that will soon be much busier.

This project has had its own issues—an attempted rollback by AT of agreed shared space facilities to increase vehicle access and preserve fucking roadside parking next to a multi-story parking building—that was fought and largely reverted to the community agreed plan. Yet another case of a small vocal (business) group trying to subvert the painfully comprehensive consultation process.

The other neighbour is a new separated bike path down Vincent Street—from Pitt St to Mayoral Drive—as part of the improved CRL station link connections. It was amusing that I happened to photograph a car in it... but think they were exiting a building as moved on to their lane not long after.

And don't forget, cycleways are not just for cyclists:

Cycleways are good for everyone - Greater Auckland

The

Greater AucklandConnor Sharp