ViaStrada wrote the book on walking and cycling strategies and produced many of the first iterations for councils across New Zealand. Today’s strategies are anchored by buildable concept designs and informed by robust public, iwi and stakeholder engagement. We are specialists in multi-criteria analysis and the only provider of the ActiveTrans Priority Tool (APT). Our prioritisation frameworks are presented in web map form for easy interpretation by clients during development and the public as end readers. Our in-house information designer produces concise and interesting to read documents, and we have experience working with council communications and graphic design staff.
Strategies & masterplans
Relevant Projects
Signposting on the cycle path network, Melbourne
Bike path users in Melbourne can often find it difficult to find their way around on the many off-road paths around the city. Hence, a review of the adequacy of signposting was required.
The trouble was, VicRoads staff never got lost; they knew their way around. So Christchurch-based ViaStrada was called in. If a foreigner could find his way around, the signposting would be fine. Or maybe the theory was that if a Kiwi bloke could navigate the routes, then a normal Melburnian would have no problems.
Key Contact: Axel Downard-WilkeCambridge Tce street renewal & riverbank enhancement
This project was carried out by Axel Wilke whilst he was still employed by Christchurch City Council (CCC), and Wayne Rimmer (Landscape Architect). Axel and Wayne were commissioned to develop a strategic plan for the section of the Avon River between Kilmore and Barbadoes Streets as part of the CCC Avon River (Central City) Masterplan.
Key Contact: Axel Downard-WilkeAudit methodology for Canterbury regional cycle network
Environment Canterbury (ECan) is developing a regional cycle network plan. ViaStrada staff developed an audit methodology, enabling alternative network elements to be compared with one another. The resulting methodology combines site visits with a clever RAMM assessment.
Key Contact: Warren LloydAuckland regional cycle network assessment
MWH New Zealand Ltd (Christchurch) and ViaStrada evaluated five different potential cycle network models. ARTA’s British expert peer reviewer thought that our GIS-based methodology, using Auckland demographic data and existing transport models, was pretty clever.
End result – a clear idea of how to develop the regional cycling network (and a happy client!).
Key Contact: Axel Downard-WilkeRTS 14
The project was to provide real intersection and midblock layouts that practitioners could use to design and implement vision impaired ‘user friendly' facilities. LTSA (now NZTA) recognised that many vision impaired standards used ‘simple' or 'ideal' situations that could not be replicated in most design situations.
Key Contact: Warren Lloyd