Bike Auckland (Bike AKL), formerly Cycle Action Auckland (CAA) is a pro-

cycling Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...

advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...

group in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, New Zealand. The predominantly volunteer group aims to improve infrastructure and conditions, as well as perceptions of cycling to encourage more "everyday people" to use bicycles, including for commuting and recreation. Affiliated with

Cycling Action Network Cycling Action Network (CAN) is a national cycling advocacy group founded in November 1996 in Wellington, New Zealand. They lobby government, local authorities, businesses and the community on behalf of cyclists, for a better cycling environment ...

, the group focuses on Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The group also more generally calls for increased funding for

cycling infrastructure Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of bicycle pedal, pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the ...

and safety measures. The first chair (up until 2008) was Bevan Woodward. The chair from 2008 to 2021 was Barbara Cuthbert. The chair from 2021 to 2023 was Tony Mitchell. The current chair as of September 2024 is Karen Hormann.

Activities

Campaigns and projects of Bike Auckland include working with

Auckland Council Auckland Council () is the local government council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority that also has the responsibilities, duties and powers of a regional council and so is a unitary authority, according to t ...

to improve safety for cyclists and other users on Auckland's main roads, such as Tamaki Drive (one of the major cycling routes of Auckland, which also saw some high-profile accidents), working with the

NZ Transport Agency NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), superseded by is a New Zealand Crown entity tasked with promoting safe and functional transport by land, including the responsibility for driver and vehicle licensing, and administering the New Zealand st ...

on improvements to the Northwestern Cycleway and other cycleway projects along motorways, such as the Waikaraka Cycleway sections around the new Manukau Harbour Bridge at

Onehunga Onehunga is a suburb of Auckland in New Zealand and the location of the Port of Onehunga, the city's small port on the Manukau Harbour. It is south of the city centre, close to the volcanic cone of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill. Onehunga is ...

. In early 2010, the group also successfully helped convince North Shore City Council to retain the Lake Road cycle lanes after opponents had been campaigning for their removal, and had gotten over 2000 signatures against the lanes. An even larger counter-petition, as well as expert opinions on the efficacy of the lanes, were eventually successful in retaining them, and having cycling improvements included during further Lake Road upgrades. During 2010–2011, Bike Auckland (then Cycle Action Auckland) submitted in the Board of Inquiry approvals process for the Waterview Connection motorway project as a submitter and participated in transport and open space discussions with expert witnesses. The Board praised Bike Auckland's 'detailed' and 'thoughtful' evidence and submission work. The Board eventually decided to favour arguments in support of a cycleway as part of the Waterview project, and had $8 million set aside towards construction. Between 2012 and 2015, Bike Auckland advocated for the conversion of the old Nelson Street motorway off-ramp to a new walk and cycleway, which was opened in late 2015. Another long-term aim is to get a cycle route crossing the

Auckland Harbour Bridge The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight-lane motorway bridge over Waitematā Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand. It joins Saint Marys Bay, New Zealand, St Marys Bay on the Auckland city side with Northcote, Auckland, Northcote on the North Shore, ...

, achieving a connection between the North Shore and the

Auckland CBD The Auckland Central Business District (CBD), or Auckland city centre, is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland, Auckland metropolitan area. It is the area in which Auckland was established in 1840, by William Hobson on land gifted ...

, which at the moment do not have any cycle route connections between them save for bike transport via ferries. While there are close links, th
GetAcross
campaign is distinct from Bike Auckland.

Meetings and events

The group conducts regular meetings with

Auckland Transport Auckland Transport (AT) is the council-controlled organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council responsible for transport projects and services. It was established by section 38 of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, and operates under ...

to discuss cycling infrastructure, and supports a number of affiliated events and groups, such as with Frocks on Bikes, Campaign for Better Transport and other sustainability initiatives. It also organises pro-cycling rallies such as the 'Bikes for Life' event and cycling culture events such as Biketober. In 2011, Cycle Action Auckland helped organise, together with

and

, the TelstraClear Challenge cycle race and community cycling festival, including rides over the

and on the Northern Busway. The event took place 11 December. On the 2024 edition of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, 17 November 2024, Bike Auckland created the Ghost Bike Art Installation in a central Auckland square. 59 ghost bikes represented lives lost on New Zealand roads in the previous five years.

Cycle mapping

Together with ARTA, Cycle Action produced a comprehensive set of cycling maps for the Auckland Region in the late 2000s. They also cooperated with the Fullers ferry company to produce a similar map for

Waiheke Island Waiheke Island is the second-largest island (after Great Barrier Island) in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. Its ferry terminal in Matiatia Bay at the western end is from the central-city terminal in Auckland. It is the most populated island ...

Awards

The group won a Cycle Friendly Award in 2004 for its commuter challenge held earlier that year.

References

{{Reflist

External links