Cyclists frustrated still no Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing

Nearly 2000 cyclists voiced frustration at 12 years of delays in getting an Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing at a Bike Auckland “liberate the lane” rally, many of them then later storming police barricades to ride over and back on May 30.

Electric bike riders were heavily in evidence at the Point Erin Park rally which included speeches from MPs Julie Anne Genter (riding her e-bike), Chloe Swarbrick, Bike Auckland’s David Slack and Barbara Cuthbert, along with e-mobility fan Sir Bob Harvey.

“After 12 years there’s nothing for crossing the harbour for cyclists,” says Slack who wants “safe and unmolested” travel for cyclists, adding a harbour crossing would provide a vital link.

“Motorists will have cyclists out of their hair and we will have the wind in ours,” Slack adds.

“We want something real and doable,” he says, explaining that the “liberate the lane” rally aimed to support Bike Auckland’s call for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to provide a three-month trial during the summer of 2021-2022 for cyclists to use a bridge lane, which the NZTA has refused, also declining permission for riders to use the bridge during the rally.

The proposed Skypath bridge crossing for cyclists and pedestrians has been halted because of engineering issues, transport minister Michael Wood telling an eworld conference it risked “compromising the asset”.

The agency says it’s considering other options, but many of the speakers and people at the rally say they’re fed up with waiting and that alternative options could be years away.

“This is the time,” Harvey told cyclists.

Green MP Julie Anne Genter offered her support to cyclists – she made global headlines in
August 2018 for riding her e-bike to Auckland Hospital to be induced.

Now she has revealed she’s pregnant again, her and partner Peter Nunns’ next child expected in November.