Bradley Simpson

If you build it, he will come – Shoeless Joe in Field of Dreams.

When it comes to Cycle Lanes, what comes first: the Lanes themselves, or lots of people using bikes?

In some European cities over 40% of urban journeys are made on a bike. Can this all be attributed to cultural differences? Or are people from Holland and Denmark more likely to bike simply because they live in compact cities, with no hills?

Bike Pump in Stockholm

But it is not only the existence of the lanes that differs Europe from many other places. It is the facilities that go along with the cycling. Like bike pumps in the city (right next to the cycle lanes, meaning no more dirty looks from service station attendants while you free load some air), and bike racks everywhere so you can lock up your bike and go into shops or work, or meet friends at a cafe, without having to tie your bike up to a power poll, or 1km away. The net result: everyone seems to bike here. Young children, men in suits, and females dressed up off to work – something I can never recall seeing in Wellington.

As John Bucher puts it:

You don´t have to be Lance Armstrong to get on a bike

At first I thought the demand from cyclists would have to come before City Planners took note. But after doing some research I realise this is not the case. In fact it is outright wrong.

Cycle Lane in Stockholm

Cities that have built bike lanes and supporting infrastructure first, to facilitate cycling, have seen huge increases in cycling - some a 10 fold increase in fact, in a short amount of time.

It is imperative that any idea is Economically, and Socially attractive and sustainable before any local body is going to pick it up and run with it. Luckily cycling is both. There are a few organisations and people on the case. I only hope they have some success. The CAN is another one.

The Harbour Bridge and Ngauranga to Petone route seem to be two commonly quoted routes in Auckland and Wellington respectively that need cycle lanes. The reality is we need to be thinking much bigger than simply these two routes. I hope they both get the attention they need, but that they are the catalyst for many more resources to be put towards cycling in New Zealand.