Neighbourhood accessibility planning

Safer routes
Safer Routes is an initiative designed to help councils improve walking and cycling access and safety in communities where pedestrians and cyclists are shown to be at high risk of injury.

The process involves consulting with the community to find out what the main issues are for pedestrians and cyclists. The council, in partnership with the community and community groups, then specifies a list of actions that need to be undertaken.

These actions can include engineering, education, encouragement and enforcement.

Examples include:

• installing drop kerbs for disabled users
• installing pedestrial crossings
• providing training for cyclists
• putting education and enforcement campaigns in place, to reduce driving speeds
• improving lighting
• organising walking school buses
• rewarding children for walking to school.

The Safer Routes process is also ideal for planning:

• improved access to public transport
• improved facilities around schools and suburban town centres
• lowered speed zones or traffic calming
• other significant infrastructure additions for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Safer Routes programme started in early 2004 in Nelson, Papatoetoe, Rotorua and South Dunedin. There are now projects in nine areas.

Starting a Safer Routes project in your community
Safer Routes projects are for communities with high numbers of cyclist or pedestrian injuries (compared to the national average and compared to neighbouring communities). These communities are usually in urban areas.

For further information please contact Land Transport New Zealand's Safer Routes Coordinator.

• Email safer.routes@landtransport.govt.nz
• Phone 09 969 9842.

Related links