Auckland Transport is very pleased with the response to its latest survey of citizens' attitudes to cycling. It claims a complete turnaround since 2015 when only 22 per cent said they felt "positive about the overall state of cycling in Auckland" and 48 per cent felt "negative" about it. This
Editorial: Survey needs to ask why cycleways aren't busy
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AT's cycling survey skirts real questions. Photo / Nick Reed
AT's online surveys have also asked people whether they identify as a cyclist, meaning they ride a bike at least occasionally, and this year 38 per cent said they did, up from 20 per cent four years ago. In the east suburbs, central Auckland and the North Shore the proportions are over 40 per cent.
The operative word must be "occasionally", for if 40 per cent of those populations were riding a bike daily, or even weekly, the cycleways would be much more heavily used than they appear to be.
AT conducted its survey in April, well before the winter had set in. It had just recorded an Auckland monthly record of 430,000 rides during March, 50,000 more than any month before. Those figures reflected the opening of new cycleways at Waterview, connecting southwestern and northwestern cycleways and the extension of the Nelson St cycleway to Fanshawe St.
The figures look impressive but they will be a tiny fraction of the total number of journeys being made on the roads alongside.
Cycling has long been a popular weekend recreational activity. A decade or so ago it was adopted by some inner-city workers for the daily commute but they remain a dedicated few. Dedicated cycleways rather than road-sharing lanes might encourage more commuters to get on a bike but structures such as the elevated path through Spaghetti Junction are not cheap.
AT needs to be recording their use, and asking hard questions about their value.