LAUSR

Background Hamilton, New Zealand, is a low-density city of 160,000 people, developed around and for the car, the largely dominant mode of transport today. The upcoming challenge is to increase significantly the levels of walking and cycling, while accommodating a growing and ageing population (Access Hamilton Strategy). New Zealand Transport Agency works alongside the district councils on the development of cities and towns, and is responsible for planning and managing the state highways. 27km serve as urban arterial roads within Hamilton City, and the Agency wants to better understand how these arterials provide for active modes users, identify the barriers to use and present develop a consistent, replicable approach for use elsewhere. Description of Program The program aims to build a whole picture and inform improvement proposals, through: Assessing the existing environment – traffic volumes, speeds, trip generators, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure availability and accessibility to users with different abilities, safety issues, urban environment quality; data and community engagement; Assessing the existing and potential needs for local trips across and along the state highways - analysis of everyday trips through mapping and community engagement, identification of patterns and barriers to use; Intervention development and prioritization - according to the needs/provision analysis and coordinated with the existing policies and strategies. Outcomes The study is a work in progress (now in the community engagement phase). It has however already outlined some valuable elements, namely: The main barriers to walking and cycling in Hamilton City and their consequences on the use of active modes, participation, or safety; Information gaps and ways of bridging them; The crucial importance of community engagement and ways of acquiring specific inputs from different users (regarding their barriers and the outcomes -choice of mode, route, etc.). Implications The case study is crafting short- and long-term recommendations to improve the walking and cycling realm, in collaboration with Hamilton City Council. It can also benefit other roading authorities by presenting a practical case study to foster walking and cycling local trips, working with the stakeholders and the community.