Hundreds Call for Emergency Bike Networks to Provide Relief from Sustained High Fuel Prices
A coalition of hundreds of residents, businesses, and community organisations, led by Cycling Action Network (CAN) and Bike Auckland, has issued an urgent plea to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and senior Ministers. Their message: Aotearoa must immediately deploy widespread safe cycling infrastructure to protect New Zealanders from the global energy crisis.
The open letter, addressed to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Nicola Willis, and Transport Minister Christopher Bishop, warns that the New Zealand Government must support road controlling authorities to make changes to enable travel without the use of a car.
A Fleet Already at the Ready
Cycling Action Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan says the solution to transport resilience is already sitting in two million Kiwi garages.
"Aotearoa is fortunate to have a fleet of over two million practical, fossil-fuel-free vehicles, bicycles and scooters, already distributed across the country," says Morgan. "Ready to keep people moving and save households money, helping to lower the financial burden of fuel for where travel by car is still unavoidable. But to unlock this potential, the Government must make the streets safe enough for people to actually use them. It is the only fiscally responsible way to protect Kiwi wallets."
Six Urgent Actions to Secure NZ’s Transport Future
The coalition is calling for a comprehensive quick-response strategy to ensure the safety and comfort of all people travelling by active transport. The six core demands are:
-
Deploy Pop-up Bike Lanes: Enable and fund "tactical urbanism" to quickly create protected routes by repurposing the leftmost traffic or parking lanes on multi-lane roads in built-up areas.
-
Reinstate Active Travel Funding: Return funding from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) and other sources to levels that allow for rapid network expansion.
-
Accelerate Shovel-Ready Projects: Reactivate high-quality, high-value-for-money walking and cycling projects that are already designed and awaiting funding.
-
Reduce Speed Limits: Implement 30km/h zones on residential streets and around schools, and lower maximum rural speeds to 80km/h to reduce fuel consumption and improve safety.
-
Hit Pause on RONS: Halt the ‘Roads of National Significance’ programme. Expanding the road network is unaffordable and locks in car dependency during a crisis; this funding should be redirected toward fossil-fuel independence.
-
Make Public Transport Free: Transition to free fares to significantly increase patronage, a move that is more cost-effective than the current targeted $50 per week rebate.
Demanding Choice, Not Dependency
Karen Hormann, Co-Chair of Bike Auckland, says the Government must empower local authorities to act before the crisis worsens.
"The Government needs to take the shackles off road-controlling authorities like Auckland Transport and councils nationwide," says Hormann. "New Zealanders want transport choice. The Government has no mandate to pass on fuel crisis costs to Kiwis while simultaneously blocking infrastructure that would provide a cheaper way to get around. We need safe, separated, and attractive conditions for active travel now."
Redirecting Investment
The letter highlights that active transport infrastructure is consistently a high value-for-money spend compared to massive highway projects.
"Spending billions on new roads that increase our dependency on imported oil is foolhardy in the current climate," adds Morgan. "We are encouraged by signs that the Government may review the cost-benefit of some RONS projects. That investment must be used more effectively to resolve our dependence on overseas fossil fuels and keep Aotearoa moving."
Photo: Cyclists on Great North Road: Jolisa Gracewood
