New Plymouth and Hastings are New Zealand’s first walking and cycling Model Communities.
New Plymouth District Council and Hastings District Council will receive $3.71m and $3.57m respectively over the 2010/11 and 2011/12 financial years. ( The $7.3m investment is from the walking and cycling activity class in the National Land Transport Programme.)
The purpose of this investment is to help create an environment that will make walking and cycling easy transport choices for people in New Plymouth and Hastings. Through this funding we’re also encouraging councils to integrate walking and cycling into their transport planning and other initiatives.
We are working closely with New Plymouth and Hastings to progress their approved programmes. For the next two years we’ll also be focussing on learning as much as we can about investing in model communities, so this knowledge can be shared with the many other communities who have shown real enthusiasm about moving in this direction.
New Plymouth
Model community vision
For residents to choose walking and cycling on spectacular shared pathways and streetscapes.
The package of activity in the New Plymouth District Council proposal includes:
- Shared pathway projects prioritised for maximum impact
- Complimentary local and state highway on-road cycle improvements
- Ongoing opportunities for expanding the network – Waitara and beyond
- An active transport hub
- The New Plymouth “Dream street” concept and shared space within the city centre
- A complimentary education programme including cyclist skills training, kids involved in driving down speed, Share the road, Pathways and Captain Car Door campaigns, Wild West Bike Fest, car free days, school gateway projects, travel planning, surveys, modal mapping and a new movement web site.
See the New Plymouth District Council's strategic vision for walking and cycling, and their proposal summary to become a walking and cycling model (PDF, 273 KB, 2 pages).
Hastings
Model community vision
Making walking and cycling irresistible.
The package of activity in the Hastings District Council proposal includes:
- A focus on four key arterial routes into the city centre, completing routes and linking communities and modes
- Complimentary on-road cycle improvements on key collector routes
- Shared pathway projects
- Footpath renewal, connectivity and lighting
- A network of information signs, bike stands and seats
- A complimentary education programme including cyclist skills training, Share the road, campaigns, promotional campaigns for ‘Walk and cycle to school’, ‘Walk and cycle to work’, ‘Walk and cycle to the shop’ and ‘Walk and cycle for fun’, and safety programmes.
The Hastings District Council website has a more detailed overview of their proposal. (external link to PDF)
