Supporting communities to improve safe and sustainable transport options

The Government has announced it will progress Reshaping Streets, a package of legislative changes to empower local councils to provide safer neighbourhoods and more sustainable transport options. Waka Kotahi Urban Mobility Manager Kathryn King outlines the vision informing the changes and the case for opening up our streets.

My childhood was spent roaming in west Auckland, where quiet streets wound their way through lush native bush and as kids, we were free to explore as far as time allowed—our neighbourhoods a playground for discovery, wonder and joy.

We spent most of our days outside, chasing adventure at every turn and coming home grubby, giggly and exhausted.

But that reality feels so far out of reach for many of today’s communities—our urban neighbourhoods have changed immensely in just a generation or two.

My 10-year-old is energetic and independent, a bouncy boy with an adventurous spirit who craves the freedom to visit his friends on his own and explore our neighbourhood and beyond without fear of traffic.

Around where we live, our streets are generally clogged and unsafe, and for many of us the only realistic option for travel means getting in a car, for even the shortest of journeys.

Quieter streets could help give my son and all Kiwi kids that freedom that my generation thrived in, as well as contributing to that all essential peace of mind for parents.

The legislative changes in Reshaping Streets will enable communities and councils to work together on the best solutions for our local streets, delivering on the country’s goals for emission reduction and road safety while providing better tools for councils to deliver change on the ground.

Councils will be able to make short-term changes to test different street layouts and features and seek feedback from communities on what works and what doesn’t. These temporary measures can demonstrate benefits sooner than planned and in a way which will prompt confidence to make permanent change.

The legislation will also provide options to limit traffic around schools, something that is common overseas and will help keep our tamariki and rangatahi safer, as well as offer them a chance at greater independence getting to and from school.

Evidence from abroad shows these ‘school streets’ work. Where they’ve been applied, we have seen perceptions of safety increase up to 87%, walking and cycling to school increase up to 50% and a big drop in traffic congestion. If parents do still want to drive, they simply park a little further away leading to improved safety outcomes outside schools.

It’s a win for our kids while still providing options to those who need them.?

Local communities also now have the ability to limit traffic on quiet streets so these can be opened up for play—bringing enormous benefits for our children’s health and wellbeing and strengthening connections in our neighbourhoods.

These ‘play streets’ have been trialled in Auckland recently, and through surveys after the fact, we saw that nearly all of the people who took part were more likely to know their neighbours’ names and more than half were open to socialising with their neighbours and sharing veggies from their garden.

Our streets could be the lifeblood of our towns and cities, a network that connects us to our communities and not only facilitates but also enhances our way of life. Our journeys could be safer and easier—no matter which transport option we decide to take. And our young people could be more independent in the way they get around, boosting that cognitive development that is so vital.??

The opportunities ahead of us are exciting. We have a proud history in Aotearoa New Zealand of pitching in and tackling challenges head on.?

The contributions made now, both big and small, will all add up and have a positive impact on our lives and on our children’s lives—so we can harness our communities’ full potential and move forward to a safer and more sustainable future.

Together, we can make that vital difference.

Kathryn King is Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Urban Mobility Manager.