Walking and Cycling Strategy

Our Walking and Cycling Strategy is one of the cornerstones of our Transport Choices programme.

After four years in the planning phase, and following months of consultation, public information sessions, submissions and hearings, our Walking and Cycling Strategy was adopted in May 2022.

The strategy focuses on providing residents with safer choices about how they travel, by improving walking and cycling across the urban areas of Tasman and sets a framework for the creation of a high standard of connected cycle networks in those areas.

Improvements for pedestrians will include safer crossings, particularly on busier roads and near schools.

Close to 250 submissions were received during the consultation process which led to a great deal of fine-tuning and amendments before the strategy was adopted.

Targets within the strategy try and get a much larger proportion of journeys to work and school by either walking or biking in the next 15 to 20 years.

This will not only create a safer transport environment and improve the health and wellbeing of our residents but will help reduce congestion and carbon emissions. This closely aligns with the Government’s recently released Emissions Reduction Plan.

Greater transport choices coming for Motueka

Get ready to ditch the car keys and dust off your bike – Motueka is receiving a share of the $350 million of Waka Kotahi funding aiming to transform transport choices.

The projects will mean change around town for walkers and cyclists.

This significant investment in Motueka will bring positive change and choice for locals.

Motueka Local Dan Roberts, Project Manager at BPM, is running this multi-stage project for us.

The project is looking to improve cycling routes on many streets and trails throughout the town, creating connections and safer options for kids to bike to school, and people to bike to work.

Dan often bikes with his children to school and to and from work.

“It concerns me that there are no safer options to get around our streets between home, school and town. People feel like they must drive cars as there simply isn’t the infrastructure for people to choose a safer alternative now.”

He says the Transport Choices project will give the Motueka community options that they haven’t had before.

“It’ll provide safer cycling infrastructure so people can choose to use cheaper and more environmentally friendly transport compared to driving.”

Dan says, “Our project team will be looking for the best ways to provide these opportunities for the Motueka community.”

“We are particularly excited about a piece of work that will investigate the potential future shape of the Motueka Town Centre. We’ll be looking to the community for ideas and feedback on what you’d like your town centre to be like.”