Te Puke choose your ride!

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is asking for your thoughts on a new 4.2km cycleway in the heart of the town, which aims to make it safer for our tamariki and rangatahi to ride to school.

Local Te Puke community group, Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway Society, identified the route and suggested it to Council as part of their Walking and Cycling Master Plan – and now thanks to $2.4 million of funding support from the Transport Choices package which is part of the Waka Kotahi Climate Emergency Response Fund programme it’s taking another step closer to reality.

The proposed route begins in Donovan Park and loops around town via Cameron Road and Boucher Avenue, passing four schools and stopping before the business district at the Jocelyn Street/Queen Street intersection.

The proposed cycleway, subject to funding

• Is approximately 4.2km long.
• Is a mix of 2.7m wide two-way cycle lane on the road, and 3 to 5m wide shared path (mixed to suit the limited width of the roads, and meet safety requirements)
• Is suitable for all ages and abilities.
• Includes some new footpath and new pedestrian crossings.

The new cycleway is Council’s latest step in helping to recognise that as the number of people in Te Puke continues to grow, so does the need for different ways to get around town.

The Transport Choices funding is dedicated to this cycleway project, it cannot be reassigned to other transport related projects.

Council’s Cycleways Manager, Scott Parker says the cycleway is a forward-thinking move, ensuring Te Puke remains a vibrant, liveable, and dynamic town.

“We’re confident this path will make it easier for you to get around Te Puke. It’ll open up our streets for people of all ages and abilities while reducing emissions and congestion on local roads.

“There are so many benefits that come from cycleways. When done right, they are an active, sustainable, and safe way to get around. It’s also about creating a safe space for everyone.

“Right now, our sights are set on creating a route that links four schools to the heart of town. Our students are all potential cycleway users, but they’re also our most precious and vulnerable users, so we need to ensure they’re safe.

“The project will also address the concerns on the speeds of these roads and removal of some car parking – so it is important we hear from the community”.

You choose your ride.

The final design of the new cycleway depends on you. There are two design options, and we want you to vote for your favourite. They’re the same community-designed route, but they’re on opposite sides of the road - as this affects things like crossings and car parks which will change. Also depending on funding, we may need to choose between the Cameron Rd cycleway or Boucher Ave cycleway.

“With your feedback, we can make this cycleway a real turning point for the Te Puke community – but it’ll only work if we have your input. So please check out the plans and tell us what you think,” says Scott.

To share your thoughts on the cycleway route and go into the draw to win a prize, jump online and do the survey at haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/choose-your-ride

You can share your thoughts on the cycleway route via one of the options below. Everyone who provides feedback goes in the draw to win one of six $200 New World vouchers.

Online wānanga ipurangi

Head to our webpage to check out the plans and do our survey to select your favourite cycleway design haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/choose-your-ride

Face to face kanohi ki te kanohi

Join us at a drop-in information session where you can go over the route maps in detail, kōrero to cycleway designers and share your thoughts with the Council team.

Time: 3-6pm

Date: Thursday 31 August

Venue: Te Puke Intermediate, Performing Arts Centre

Hard copy pepa mārō

Printed forms are available at Council’s Te Puke library and service centre, 130 Jellicoe St, Te Puke open Monday - Friday: 9am – 5pm, Saturday: 9am – 12pm.

Feedback closes at 5pm on Thursday 7 September.

More about Transport Choices

A total of $2.4 million has been allocated from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Transport Choices Fund to design and create this new cycleway.

This project is funded by the Transport Choices package, part of the Waka Kotahi Climate Emergency Response Fund programme, which aims to demonstrate what’s possible for communities nationwide by quickly providing people with healthier, more affordable, and safer transport choices that are good for us, and for the environment.

Transport Choices is focused on helping to reduce emissions from transport and create fairer, safer, and healthier environments for people to live, work and play across Aotearoa.