Off-Road Commuter Network
Project timeline
Project Donors
WCC On-road Bike Commuter Network
Wellington has boldly embraced the idea of creating a city-wide cycleway network - Paneke Poneke.
The network aims to enable more people to cycle commute in and out of our city via better access, separation from vehicles and more riding options, resulting in improved health outcomes, improved congestion and fewer cars on our roads.
TW promotes off-road trails using the Greenbelt
In looking at the many challenges the implementation of the cycle network faces, our trails community started to explore the question: Could our green belts be used to provide trails for commuting in and out of our city that keep commuters far away from cars?
We identified some opportunities, and Trails Wellington decided to engage Hamish Seaton, one of NZ’s leading trail designers, to explore possible options. Fast forward several months, and a Wellington off-road commuting network was conceived.
The TW proposal is flat where possible (less than 5 degrees), wide and connects and complements WCC's Paneke Poneke. With the massive growth in eBikes, the challenges of hills and wind mean significant uptake is a realistic possibility. We have shared the plan far and wide amongst our stakeholders and community and have received positive support.
Bloomberg Grant
WCC and Trails Wellington subsequently decided this innovative addition to Paneke Poneke was something that the Bloomberg Foundation (US-based) might be interested in. In 2023, TW assisted the WCC in preparing its application for a Bloomberg Grant, which are given to innovative cycleway programmes. WCC was successful in its application and received a $500,000 USD (~$850,000 NZD) grant from Bloomberg. These grant funds are now being used to complete a more detailed design for one of the commuter loops and to commence construction of some of the sections of our Southern and Eastern commuter loops.
Below are conceptual images of our proposed off-road commuter network
Trails are being built
Our two current off-road commuter projects are the Berhampore/MacAlister Park and Matairangi / Crawford St to Haitaitai Velodrome sections.
WCC On-road Bike Commuter Network
Wellington has boldly embraced the idea of creating a city-wide cycleway network - Paneke Poneke.
The network aims to enable more people to cycle commute in and out of our city via better access, separation from vehicles and more riding options, resulting in improved health outcomes, improved congestion and fewer cars on our roads.
TW promotes off-road trails using the Greenbelt
In looking at the many challenges the implementation of the cycle network faces, our trails community started to explore the question: Could our green belts be used to provide trails for commuting in and out of our city that keep commuters far away from cars?
We identified some opportunities, and Trails Wellington decided to engage Hamish Seaton, one of NZ’s leading trail designers, to explore possible options. Fast forward several months, and a Wellington off-road commuting network was conceived.
The TW proposal is flat where possible (less than 5 degrees), wide and connects and complements WCC's Paneke Poneke. With the massive growth in eBikes, the challenges of hills and wind mean significant uptake is a realistic possibility. We have shared the plan far and wide amongst our stakeholders and community and have received positive support.
Bloomberg Grant
WCC and Trails Wellington subsequently decided this innovative addition to Paneke Poneke was something that the Bloomberg Foundation (US-based) might be interested in. In 2023, TW assisted the WCC in preparing its application for a Bloomberg Grant, which are given to innovative cycleway programmes. WCC was successful in its application and received a $500,000 USD (~$850,000 NZD) grant from Bloomberg. These grant funds are now being used to complete a more detailed design for one of the commuter loops and to commence construction of some of the sections of our Southern and Eastern commuter loops.
Below are conceptual images of our proposed off-road commuter network
Trails are being built
Our two current off-road commuter projects are the Berhampore/MacAlister Park and Matairangi / Crawford St to Haitaitai Velodrome sections.
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