Getting There - On Foot, By Cycle - National Implementation Framework Part 2
Last updated on
21/11/2008 3:06 p.m.
A strategy to advance walking and cycling in New Zealand transport
February 2005
Emphasis on supporting effective local action
Effective action at a local level will be critical to the success of Getting there - on foot, by cycle.
Historically, local councils have had the major responsibility for walking and cycling provision - through activities such as providing and maintaining footpaths, calming traffic in local neighbourhoods, developing cycleways, re-developing main streets, and providing parks and public spaces.
Recently, the development of local and regional cycling and walking strategies has resulted in a number of New Zealand communities undertaking increased planning, provision and promotion for walking and cycling. This has been supported by increased central government transport investment, which has raised the level of national funding contributions available to road controlling authorities for walking and cycling planning, promotion and infrastructure projects.
An early activity to be undertaken by central government will be to prioritise specific policies and actions needed to strengthen and support effective action for walking and cycling at the local level, within the framework for action set out in Getting there - on foot, by cycle. This will build on information received from stakeholders during consultation on the draft of this Strategy, which identified a number of areas as important, including the need for proactive leadership, building workforce capacity and exploring incentives and requirements to strengthen implementation.
The key role of local government in strategy implementation will be recognised through the involvement of Local Government New Zealand in the Strategy's central co-ordination process.
Monitoring and evaluation
Regular monitoring and evaluation will be undertaken to review implementation of Strategy action plans and to assess effectiveness of the Strategy and its activities. This will help inform further development of implementation plans.
As a first step, a series of more detailed performance indicators will be established for the Strategy. These could be of two types:
- outcome indicators related to the Strategy's overall goals (such as the levels of increase sought in walking and cycling trips undertaken for transport and the reductions sought in pedestrian and cyclist injuries)
- progress indicators related to activities or intermediate 'steps along the way' (such as the percentage of regional and local authorities with walking and cycling strategies in place and the completion of standards and guidelines for walking and cycling).
Resourcing the Strategy
Many sectors have a role to play in addressing walking and cycling, both nationally and in New Zealand communities, and so funding of walking and cycling initiatives will come from a variety of sources and sectors.
For example, national transport investment needs to continue to support strategy implementation, but continued investment by local government will also be needed to ensure its success.
At a national level, the Government has already signalled its commitment to walking and cycling, by committing funding investment specifically for these modes within the National Land Transport Programme. Further Government investment has also been made in the Road Safety to 2010 Strategy, specifically to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.
It is expected that further central government investment in walking and cycling to support strategy implementation could come from a number of sectors such as transport, health, sport and recreation, and the environment, and that this investment will be informed by:
- ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy and its activities
- development of the Strategy's national implementation plans
- regional and local walking and cycling strategies.
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