Getting there - On Foot, By Cycle - Priority 4
Last updated on
21/11/2008 2:22 p.m.
A strategy to advance walking and cycling in New Zealand transport
February 2005
Encourage land use, planning, and design that supports walking and cycling
Why?
Many of our current land use and development practices have resulted in long distances between origin and destination points, increasing our dependence on motor vehicles to meet day-to-day needs. Destinations within walking and cycling distance help give us the 'choice to choose' walking and cycling. The more destinations within easy walking and cycling distance, the easier it will be to increase use of these modes of transport.
Higher-density and mixed-use development can place origin and destination points closer together, enabling walking and cycling to be used more often in day-to-day transport. The placement of new subdivisions, housing complexes and retirement villages can either contribute to, or reduce, residents' ability to walk and cycle.
Supportive layout and design of new developments can also increase walking and cycling. This can include the placement of facilities such as schools, services, shops and recreational facilities, but it also includes the design of the street systems used to reach them. Street networks that are highly connective can be more efficient for getting around on foot or by cycle. Intimate streets are more likely to encourage cars to 'share the streets' than exaggerated corridors.
For pedestrians and cyclists, travel is not always about getting from A to B. Often, it is about experiencing life along the way, being in rather than just passing through communities. Ensuring that new communities have an active street life, interesting and human-scaled design, and amenities such as shade trees and rest benches will encourage walking and cycling.
Desired outcome
Future land use, planning and urban design will result in new communities and developments that provide a wide range of destinations within walking and cycling distance and environments that invite people to walk and cycle.
How?
International and local experience indicates that the following types of action will help to achieve this outcome:
- District plans and urban land use and planning policies support efforts to minimise distances between places where people live, work, shop, go to school and spend their free time, maximising their opportunities to make trips by a range of modes of transport.
- Public facilities, shopping centres and schools are sited to enable people to reach them using a range of modes of transport.
- New subdivision standards and codes encourage street design that supports walking and cycling.
- Sympathetic urban design creates environments that pedestrians and cyclists enjoy and feel comfortable in.
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