The Government has released its draft Setting of Speed Limits Rule, which rolls back many of the changes made under the previous Government that were designed to make our roads safer for everyone by reducing vehicle speeds.
Living Streets Aotearoa, the national pedestrian advocacy organisation, is very concerned about Transport Minister Simeon Brown's direction to NZTA (Waka Kotahi) to end funding for local councils' walking and cycling projects. This is a short-sighted, ideological decision that will come back to haunt the Government.
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
Living Streets Aotearoa, the national walking advocacy group, has welcomed some good news for pedestrians in the new Emissions Reduction Plan, but called on the Government to act faster and go further to decarbonise transport. Living Streets Aotearoa Vice-President Tim Jones said “In the race to decarbonise our society and economy by 2050, the years between now and 2030 are crucial, because that’s when the steepest emissions reductions need to happen. And transport, especially in cities, is the sector we can decarbonise fastest – but only if we take the right steps.”
3 April 2018
Government walks the talk in its new GPS
Walking advocacy group Living Streets Aotearoa welcomes the Government’s new transport and funding priorities set out in the Government Policy Statement on Transport.
This Government has heard Living Streets Aotearoa by putting money where everybody’s shoes go. The funding burden for footpath maintenance will now be shared between local and central government under the local roads maintenance class. The walking and cycling activity class has seen a 248% increase which it desperately needed.
Here is the letter from the Minister of Transport
I recently sent this letter to Minister Nick Smith following some comments from him about urban design and footpaths. High quality urban design that encourages walkable neighbourhoods around public transport nodes is essential for the future or our cities. Good urban design makes economic sense both for individuals and communities as a whole.
Here is the letter I sent. I will post the response when it arrives.
Andy Smith - Living Streets Aotearoa President
This is the Living Streets Aotearoa submission on the Governments Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding 2011
Submission writing is one of our most effective ways to influence policy and plan decisions to benefit pedestrians - that is everyone - please support our submissions by writing your own in support of ours.
Or if you would like to help us write submissions please let us know, and use these tips.
Submissions made by Living Streets Aotearoa
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.
