New Zealand Cycle Trail

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The New Zealand Cycle Trail Project ( Māori Nga Haerenga ) is an initiative co- funded by the New Zealand government to set up and maintain a network of cycle paths across the country, known as "Great Rides". By the end of September 2010, funding for a total of 18 of these applications had been approved in both application rounds, while construction had already started on some of the projects.

history

Originally titled "the New Zealand Cycleway", and later "the National Cycleway Project", it was initially planned as a cycle path that would run the entire length of New Zealand "from Kaitaia to Bluff ". This was proposed by Prime Minister John Key in early 2009 as the 21st "surprise" measure at the New Zealand government's national job summit.

John Key, who is also New Zealand's Minister of Tourism, announced that from mid-March 2009 the authorities would be "actively and aggressively" working on a plan to implement the cycle path, abandoning the original idea of ​​a direct route in favor of a network of existing cycle paths and new ones Sections that Key called "Great Rides" based on the New Zealand Great Walks , a system of famous hiking trails. The individual routes are to be connected to a New Zealand-wide network in the long term.

To expedite the process, John Key promised that the first approved sections would be published by June 2009. The first seven projects were announced in July 2009 and will receive a total of NZ $ 9 million in grants. November 2009, construction began on the Waikato River Trails , the first of the Quick Start projects, which received NZ $ 3 million to complete a 41 km section of a 100 km bike path along the Waikato River .

In the second phase of the project, it was announced in February 2010 that of the 54 applications (apart from the Quick Start Trails) 13 had been selected for funding - provided that the feasibility studies were positive. If all of these trails and the quick start trails were made a reality, they would provide over 2,000 km of bike paths. In September 2010, five more tracks were approved, so that a total of 18 cycle paths now belong to the NZCT.

On July 2, 2010, Prime Minister John Key opened the first segment to be completed with Cycle Trail grants, namely the section of the "Old Coach Road" of the Ruapehu to Whanganui - Nga Ara Tuhono Trails.

Characteristics

Project framework

The original idea for the bike path was a continuous route with a concrete surface and it was debated that the Department of Conservation should oversee the construction process. Cycling advocates noted that it bodes well for the future of the project that the feasibility study would be carried out by the Ministry of Tourism rather than the Ministry of Transport.

From mid-March 2009 there were the first comments from government circles, which indicated that the original vision of a continuous cycle path through the whole country was probably not feasible, at least not in this form. Instead, it is now envisaged to create a whole network of cycle paths, combining existing sections and upgrading other forms of tracks and roads. The tracks would likely have different standards in different areas, especially as some estimates put the cost of the original proposal for a continuous concrete cycle path at at least $ 300 million instead of the $ 50 million discussed.

In May 2009 it was confirmed that rather than a single route across New Zealand, the project would, at least initially, focus on a number of promising individual routes. Substantial parts of these routes could use existing railway corridor protection areas or possibly planned roads, or even existing bicycle infrastructure. They would also be able to pass through nature reserves, where appropriate, and incorporate existing tourist destinations, creating particularly interesting routes.

In mid-2010, Prime Minister John Key announced that he expected 2,000 km of bike lanes to be completed by the end of 2011.

Desired benefit

Apart from creating jobs in times of economic crisis (both in the construction industry and subsequently in the tourism sector), the intention of the trail would be to offer local and international cycle tourists a route. Cycle Action Auckland noted in an editorial that the Otago Central Rail Trail would have brought profound benefits to an otherwise struggling rural area by creating an estimated 1,000 full-time and part-time jobs in the area, and the positive effects of one national cycle route network on tourism would probably be the same. Cycling Advocates' Network supports the proposal as an encouragement for cycling in New Zealand, and hiking enthusiasts also see the benefit of such a route. The New Zealand Department of Tourism noted that the project could also provide a much-needed boost to feasibility and funding for many cities' degenerating cycle path strategies and plans.

Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism show that so far (until 2009) only about 2% of all tourists in New Zealand take bike tours as part of their activities. However, the figures also showed that cycle tourists stay more than twice as long as the average tourist and spend around 1.6 times as much as other tourists during their stay. The New Zealand Ministry of Tourism also noted that to date there has been no effective promotion of cycling in New Zealand to international tourists, although there is a significant tourism division, e.g. B. in Europe.

Estimates for the quick start projects put work for about 40 people in the initial construction phase for each. Prime Minister John Key said he expects around 500 jobs in total to be created in the construction of the bike paths, and up to 4,000 in the subsequent tourism benefits of the trails.

financing

In May 2009, the government announced that NZ $ 50 million had been earmarked for the cycle path from the Ministry of Tourism's budget for the next three years. It is hoped that local administrations and other corporations would also contribute further sums, with co-financed projects being preferred to money from the state budget. Of the total, NZ $ 2.5 million will be earmarked for management and advisory duties in the Department of Tourism, while $ 47.5 million will be used to create the National Cycleway Project Fund, from which successful applicants will receive grants to build the bike paths.

Routes

Quick start projects

The first projects to receive grants from the "Quick Start" part of the Cycle Trail Fund are:

  • Waikato River Trails - two new 41 km sections in the southern Waikato River area completing a 100 km bike path
  • Hauraki Rail Trail - in the Thames Valley from Paeroa to Waihi and Paeroa to Thames
  • Far North - possible routes are being investigated for a 90 km bike path
  • Central North Island Rail Trail - 60 km of bike path suggested
  • Mountains to the Sea - two new cycle paths with a total of 245 km in the Tongariro and Whanganui National Parks
  • St James Trail - 50 km of mountain bike trails are being built by the Department of Conservation
  • Around the Mountain Cycle Trail (Southland) / Queenstown Lakes - possible 175 km of bike path

Second project round

The following trail suggestions were selected for the second round (provided the feasibility studies are successful):

In July 2010 it was announced that eight of the originally 13 cycle paths approved for the second round had received the green light, four more still required investigations and one (Tauranga Moana) was rejected because of land use / access problems that would make the application feasible in the near future prevented. $ 18.8 million has been allocated to the approved tracks and the local authorities are paying an additional $ 16 million of the project costs. Five more tracks from the list were approved in September 2010.

Among the projects that applied for grants from the new fund following the change in framework are routes in urban Auckland as well as on Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island. While none of them were successful, Nikki Kaye, National MP for Auckland, and other sponsors of the applications such as Cycle Action Auckland are confident that other rewarding projects such as the Waiheke Cycle Trail will be realized.

Public reactions

While many cycling groups and tourism promoters such as Tourism New Zealand have welcomed the project with enthusiasm, there has also been skepticism, particularly about the potential costs of the project and the scope of the economic benefits. Some voices have claimed that the bike path idea smells like the Depression's job creation schemes for the working class. Others have countered the critics that the money invested in the bike path will definitely benefit New Zealand's economy and provide the country with lasting infrastructure benefits.

Editorial writers have stressed that the Prime Minister is very clear about the project he launched, despite criticism of the changed cost estimates and the move from the original concept of a single track to a cycle path network. The project has also sparked the enthusiasm of some groups of business people, e.g. B. a meeting of 130 business and government representatives in Waikato, who endorse it because of the tourism, health care and business benefits it could bring to the Hamilton and Waikato area. The New Zealand Contractor's Federation also supports it, as it expects it could be very beneficial for many small and medium-sized businesses in tough economic times.

The cycle path project is also seen as a potential lifebuoy for small towns like Kumara on the west coast. The small town, formerly a center for gold mining, now has only a few hundred inhabitants left and is about to close its only remaining shop. Westland Mayor Maureen Pugh hopes the Westland Wilderness Trail, selected as one of 13 Phase II trails, could be a "lifeline" in attracting tourism to the area.

literature

  • Kennett Brothers: Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails . Kennett Brothers Publishing, Wellington 2012, ISBN 978-0-9864641-2-6 (English).
  • Claudia Harfst: Cycling in New Zealand: New Zealand Cycle Trail - South Island . Mana Verlag, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-95503-006-3 .
  • Claudia Harfst: Cycling in New Zealand: New Zealand Cycle Trail - North Island . Mana Verlag, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-934031-22-7 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Patrick Gower : Concrete plan for Key's bike route . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 11, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  2. ↑ a b c Chris Daniels : Cycleway gets $ 50m - now a series of 'Great Rides' says Key . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , May 14, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Jarrod Booker : Struggling regions welcome news trail . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , July 28, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  4. ↑ a b PM turns first sod on cycleway project . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , November 10, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  5. ↑ a b Thirteen new cycle trails considered . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , February 11, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  6. ^ Lesley Hamilton : Five new cycle trails get the green light . Ministry of Tourism , September 2010, archived from the original on October 2, 2010 ; accessed on May 5, 2019 (English, original website no longer available).
  7. ↑ Key opens first cycleway segment . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , July 2, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Michael Field : Best job ideas in budget round - English . In: Stuff - National . Fairfax Media as of March 2, 2009, archived from the original on March 12, 2009 ; accessed on May 5, 2019 (English, original website no longer available).
  9. ↑ From the Desk of the National Cycleway (press release of 'Ridestrong' cycle advocacy group.) March 20, 2009.
  10. ↑ Second thoughts turn Key's track into a network. In: The New Zealand Herald. March 24, 2009
  11. ↑ a b Key confident cycleway will add more jobs . In: New Zealand Herald . APN Holdings NZ Limited as of June 1, 2010, archived from the original on August 26, 2010 ; accessed on May 5, 2019 (English, original website no longer available).
  12. ^ Cycleway 'being taken seriously', Key says . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 10, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  13. ^ Barbara Cuthbert: Key could be on the right track with cycleway . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 10, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  14. ^ Cycleway Would Benefit Walkers Too . In: Scoop Culture . Scoop independet News , February 28, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  15. ↑ a b Nick Churchouse : Is the cycleway a winner? . In: Stuff . Fairfax Media , April 28, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  16. ^ Tamsyn Parker : Why Key's national bike track could be paved with gold . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 22, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  17. ^ Eloise Gibson : Cycle track plan moves at snail's pace . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , February 26, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  18. ^ Pre-Hearing Estimates Questionnaire Vote: Tourism . In: New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Parliament , June 2010, p. 3 , accessed May 5, 2019 .
  19. ↑ Eight new cycle trails ready to roll . In: Beehive . New Zealand Government , July 7, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  20. ^ Work to start on eight new cycle trails . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , July 6, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  21. ^ Five new cycle trails get the green light . In: Beehive . New Zealand Government , September 23, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  22. ↑ Great Barrier wants cycleway link . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , January 11, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  23. ^ No place for Auckland on the national cycle trail . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , February 11, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  24. ^ Brian Rudman : Don't recycle culture into construction . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 3, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  25. ↑ Bruce Sheppard : Let's get this cycle way right . In: Stuff . Fairfax Media , June 18, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  26. ↑ John Armstrong : National cycleway no joking matter . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 23, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  27. ^ John Armstrong : Bike plan has Waikato in a spin . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , March 23, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  28. ^ Proposals for North to South Cycleway Welcome . In: Scoop Business . Scoop independet News , March 11, 2009, accessed May 5, 2019 .
  29. ↑ Gilles Brown : Hope rests on cycleway . In: Stuff . Fairfax Media , March 18, 2010, accessed May 5, 2019 .