Ahead of a new government being formed, Waka Kotahi has paused funding to a programme designed to speed up adoption of more sustainable modes of travel.
Living Streets President, Tim Jones, criticised Waka Kotahi's move. “There are many benefits of walking and other non-car modes, that we need to see accelerated for both health and climate action,” he said.
Speed kills, and in particular, speed kills pedestrians. Reducing urban road speeds from 50 to 30 km/h hugely improves pedestrian survival rates in accidents.
Living Streets Aotearoa is disgusted that a public agency has put the interests of private companies ahead of the public interest. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has approved the renewal of the E-scooters (Declaration not to be motor vehicles) Gazette Notice for a further 5 years exactly as it has been since 2018.
We wonder why Waka Kotahi (NZTA) bothered to consult when it has apparently ignored:
Living Streets Aotearoa is expanding. We are excited to offer two opportunities for paid part-time positions to support and extend the advocacy that Living Streets Aotearoa does. Are you interested in working for us or know someone who is? Please share this information.
It’s been a long time since we have had paid staff and we expect with the creation of these two roles to be able to offer members a better deal and expand our advocacy work to put walking more in the spotlight and on the map.
The two roles are
Admin whizz
With all the damage oversize vehicles, such as SUVs and double-cab utes, cause, should they be banned altogether? That was the provocative question a journalist asked us recently for her article The case to ban SUVs. And the new End Urban SUVs campaign is also focused on this issue.
Walking Summit 2023 poster
Here's the statement Living Streets Aotearoa put out yesterday in response to the Prime Minister's announcement that transport emissions reductions would be made a lower priority in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle. We believe this approach is short-sighted and self-defeating. We're calling on the Government not to abandon its policies to reduce transport emissions.
Dropping The Ball On Emissions Reductions Not The Answer To Climate Resilience
Join us at the fourth New Zealand Walking Summit in Christchurch this 24 and 25 July 2023.
Registrations open, provisional programme available!
Living Streets Aotearoa is the New Zealand organisation for people on foot, promoting walking-friendly communities. We are a nationwide organisation with local branches and affiliates throughout New Zealand.
We want more people walking and enjoying public spaces be they young or old, fast or slow, whether walking, sitting, commuting, shopping, between appointments, or out on the streets for exercise, for leisure or for pleasure.
