Infrastructure for quick-build cycleways

Waka Kotahi commissioned ViaStrada to undertake research on quick-build (interim) cycleway infrastructure. Some of New Zealand’s Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs) are responding to the imperatives of the Road to Zero strategy, the Climate Change Emergency Declaration, and emissions reduction planning by reallocating road space and supporting mode shift to cycling. The Innovating Streets programme of 2020/21 led to the rollout of several demonstration (1 day to 1 month), pilot (1 month to 1 year) and interim (5+ year) cycleways. The demonstration and pilot projects are typically not durable enough for ongoing use, and the interim projects used a wide variety of materials that means cycleways from place to place are not visually consistent. At the other end of the spectrum, permanent design cycleways initiated with the Urban Cycleways Programme (2014-2018) and recent major projects have attracted criticism for high cost. 

We have prepared a research note that provides information about the best infrastructure options for installing quick-build (interim) separated cycleways to increase safety and encourage mode shift in a visually, physically and aesthetically consistent manner on a national scale. It provides a review of international practice and lists some of the domestic approaches. Although focused on the infrastructure, this note also highlights some of the process barriers to quick delivery. Waka Kotahi is formatting the research and publication is expected in May 2022.