Could the capital’s parks host newest cycleways?
Trails Wellington has a bold plan to turn parts of the green belt into the city’s newest cycle routes.
The group’s ‘‘Nature-Based Commuting’’ proposal aims to build beginner-level trails through a string of parks and reserves that join up Wellington’s suburbs with the city centre.
It has this week received a $650,000 grant to fund a feasibility study, bringing the concept a step closer to reality.
Wellington is one of 10 cities worldwide to receive the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure grant, with recognition given to its fast rollout and partnership with mana whenua.
In a statement, mayor Tory Whanau said improved off-road cycle trails alongside an on-road bike network presented a ‘‘massive opportunity for Wellington to become a world-class destination to experience and enjoy by bike’’.
The trails include routes from the eastern, western, and northern suburbs all converging on the city centre, complementing the Paneke Pōneke cycleway network.
It also involves a U-shaped loop trail starting in Mt Victoria and heading south towards Wakefield Park in Island Bay before returning to the city via Vogeltown and Central Park in Brooklyn.
Trails Wellington trustee Matt Farrar said it had the potential to build confidence for cyclists by removing them from city traffic.
This would be an ideal extension of the Island Bay cycleway, he said.
‘‘The first part is quite nice, but then you get to Wakefield Park and you’ve got no cycleway at all. And you don’t reconnect to a cycleway until you’re at the Newtown Countdown.
‘‘It recommences along the last part of Adelaide Rd and then you lose it again at the Basin Reserve, which is quite tricky with lots of cars and traffic lights.
‘‘We think this is a safe option because there’ll be no cars on this at all. So families would feel safe to use
‘‘We find a lot of women . . . want to get into biking, but there’s not that many beginner trails. So to offer nature-based community trails that are not too steep, quite wide, and less intimidating I think is great.’’ Courtenay Jamieson Trails Wellington trustee
this, even for their kids going to school.’’
Farrar said the trails would have a limestone packed gravel surface, and would be made up of both renovated existing pathways and new trails.
They would be designed to allow most popular models of e-bike to easily use them, as they would be about 3m wide and with only gentle gradients.
Courtenay Jamieson, another trustee who also manages women’s
cycling group Revolve, said the trails had received an enthusiastic response from members.
‘‘We find a lot of women in Wellington want to get into biking, but there’s not that many beginner trails. So to offer nature-based community trails that are not too steep, quite wide, and less intimidating I think is great.’’
Farrar hopes to start building the trails next year, if all goes to plan.
The trails would avoid any ecologically sensitive areas, and
there is an additional plan to plant native vegetation for every metre of trail to eventually form a canopy over them.
Wellington City Council manager of open space and parks Myfanwy Emeny said there was ‘‘potential in elements of the proposal’’.
The council was commissioning an initial piece of work for an investment business case, and was supportive of the idea of an easier grade trail to improve accessibility through the Town Belt, she said.
‘‘Council is less supportive of the proposed wider commuter network, as it goes through a number of reserves that are currently closed to biking due to their significant ecological values. These are Khandallah Park, Trelissick Park and tariWilton’s Bush.’’
Emeny also said any new trail development would need to be consistent with the Town Belt Management Plan and relevant Reserve Management Plans.