We’ve got lots of exciting projects happening across the country and two of the cycling team’s favourites are Whanganui’s proposed urban shared pathways – one of the most impressive things about these projects is the way the council is engaging with their local community.
Whanganuians are being invited on ‘virtual tours’ which let them see a visual impression of what the pathways will look like and to hear landscape designer Craig Pocock talk about the designs he has created - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAwVr5OyipE
Once they’ve taken the virtual tour, created by Opus, they are then given the opportunity to have their say, to share feedback and ask questions using an online survey tool. Providing these fantastic, innovative solutions online is a great way to make it easy to engage with their local community.
These new urban shared pathways have been designed with people who cycle, pedestrians and other pathway users in mind and are being built to impress! The pathways will provide a safe route for cycling and walking as well as:
- improving urban links, helping to safely connect schools, workplaces, town centre and recreational areas
- adding vibrancy with their innovative designs
- developingfun, lively places to visit, attracting a diverse range of people
- enhancing existing natural landscape features, especially along the Whanganui River.
You can read more about the two new path ways North Mole and Te Tuaiwihere.
These are just two great examples of exciting projects happening across New Zealand and the innovative ways local councils are engaging with their communities – we’re looking forward to updating you on more cycling developments in the next edition of the quarterly dashboard.