Bowie’s China Girl fights cycleway
A high-profile Kiwi model who featured in a David Bowie music video is caught in a clash to prevent a cycleway being installed in Auckland’s Viaduct.
Auckland Transport has described its Projectwave cycleway trial as the ‘‘missing link’’ in the city centre cycling loop, running alongmarket Place, Customs St West, and Lower Hobson St.
But model, actress and restaurateur Geeling Ching is among many residents and business owners opposing the million-dollar project.
‘‘I am not sure how our suppliers are going to make deliveries without blocking the entire street,’’ Ching, the operations manager for Soul Bar & Bistro, said.
‘‘It will be really difficult for them, and we’re a very busy place so on any given day we will have large amounts of stock coming in.’’
Ching shot to fame after starring in the music video for David Bowie’s 1983 hit single China Girl.
She went on to appear in several films, including Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
Her concerns about the cycleway also include how popular it will be.
‘‘I live in the area and often go for morning runs; you’ll only ever see about three cyclists in this area,’’ she said.
‘‘It feels like it is not very well thought out and the businesses have not had any part in the consultation.’’
Projectwave is part of the government’s Innovating Streets programme, which supports councils to create more peoplefriendly spaces in towns and cities. Market Place and Customs St West have been transformed into one-way streets in the trial, with one lane now occupied by the cycleway.
Auckland Transport spokesperson Mark Hannan said the idea behind the trial was to test the design over a period of months and make refinements.
He noted extra loading zones and places to drop people off had been included in the project, with parts of two of the streets reserved for this.