KEY POINTS:
The idea of adding a cycleway and pedestrian footpath to the Auckland Harbour Bridge is such a no-brainer that you might be forgiven for wondering why it wasn't raised before.
It was, of course. The proposal has been discussed many times over the years, most recently and forcefully in 2004 when a 6000-signature petition was presented to a parliamentary committee.
Transit New Zealand, which operates the bridge, found then that there was insufficent capacity but the $45 million upgrade of the "clip-on" lanes makes the idea feasible now.
And if it's feasible, it must be done. Cycle Action Auckland deputy chairman Graeme Knowles, who presented the petition, is right to say that there would be no excuse for not doing the work at the time of the upgrade. The popularity of cycling has increased massively in recent years, not just as recreation but also as a form of urban transport, as higher petrol prices and awareness of climate change alter commuters' habits. We need to do as much as possible to make life easier for cyclists, so as to encourage the shift from four wheels to two.
No doubt, in their early days, cycle and pedestrian lanes would prove a sightseeing attraction, at least until people realise that walking across the bridge, so close to the snarl of traffic, is not entirely pleasant. But soon enough it will become just another part of the city's transport network. Making it simpler and safer for cyclists and pedestrians is every bit as important as improving public transport.
