Walking and cycling

This page relates to the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

This page describes the activity class for walking and cycling and provides information and links to the relevant work categories and further information.

Activity class definition

The Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS) 2024 states this activity class is for the purposes of maintaining the existing walking and cycling network and investment in walking and cycling where there is either a clear benefit for increasing economic growth or clear benefit for improving safety and where there is an existing or reliably forecast demand for walking or cycling.

Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024(external link)

Government expectations

We (NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) as investor) expect that investments from the walking and cycling activity class will contribute to outcomes sought by the government and the Minister of Transport’s expectations set out in the GPS 2024.

Government expectations (webpage yet to come)

Qualifying for National Land Transport Programme consideration

To qualify for consideration for inclusion in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) and subsequent approval of funding:

• any proposed activity is eligible if it fits within the walking and cycling activity class in the GPS and the appropriate work category definition in this knowledge base.
• walking and cycling infrastructure provided within a regional network must be included in the relevant regional land transport plan (RLTP).
• approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) must comply with the NZTA Procurement manual and procurement rules, as well as any relevant standards and guidelines listed in the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi standards and guidelines register for land transport.

Procurement manual

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi standards and guidelines register for land transport

Walking and cycling work categories

Walking and cycling activities described in the following work categories are eligible for inclusion:

• work category 124: cycle path maintenance
• work category 125: footpath maintenance
• work category 140: minor events
• work category 141: emergency works
• work category 224: cycle path renewal
• work category 225: footpath renewal
• work category 451: walking facilities
• work category 452: cycling facilities
• work category 341: low-cost, low-risk improvements (webpage yet to come)
• work category 421: travel demand management and behaviour change
• work category 432: safety promotion, education and advertising

Walking and cycling network guidance

Walking and cycling network guidance helps determine what is fit for purpose regarding levels of service (LoS).

We expect approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) to make use of best-practice guidance and standards and discourage proposals for funding that are not in alignment with design standards, including:

• Pedestrian network guidance (PNG), which sets out ways to improve New Zealand’s walking environment, and provides design standards and advice.
  Pedestrian network guidance

• Cycling network guidance (CNG), which guides appropriate LoS and sets out a best-practice approach to planning and designing cycle networks and facilities.
  Cycling network guidance

Approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) need to have a clear understanding of who the cycling programme is targeting, what LoS is required in delivering the activity or activities, and how different activities might complement each other to maximise the benefits of investment.

The main factors influencing LoS relate to safety, comfort and delays, which have the highest impact on network characteristics such as traffic volumes and speed, degree of separation from motor traffic, facility width and delays.

Level of service metrics (for network operations planning) (AP-R475-15)(external link)

Supporting activities (engagement, promotion and education)

Activities to support safe use of walking and cycling facilities is eligible for inclusion under work category 432. A separate activity to promote facilities and user behaviours is ineligible for inclusion. 

Work categories for funding supporting activities

Supporting engagement and promotion (that is targeted and cost-effective) of safe use of walking and cycling improvements is eligible under the following work categories:

• work category 451: walking facilities
• work category 452: cycling facilities
• work category 341: low-cost, low-risk improvements (webpage yet to come)
• work category 432: safety promotion, education, and advertising.

Requirements for supporting activities

The following requirements apply regarding education, promotion and/or advertising activities:

• Value for money:
  Any supporting activities must be the most cost-effective and efficient way to contribute to GPS priorities.
• Advertising guidelines:
  All advertising activities must comply with NZTA advertising guidelines. All advertising activities with an overall cost of delivery over $250,000 must be submitted to the NZTA Education and Advertising team (advertising@nzta.govt.nz) to check they follow the guidelines before release.
  Advertising guide (webpage yet to come)

• Promotion of safe use:
  To help deliver the outcomes and benefits identified in planning the cycling network, any advertising or promotional activities must be targeted at the users the infrastructure is designed to attract and must be cost-effective. This must be demonstrated in a business case or other supporting document.

• Targeting of activities:
  These activities can be targeted to the safe use of the existing network, or new infrastructure/routes. Robust consultation with community members and business owners that could be affected by the investment in walking and cycling improvements is required for planned routes prior to investment in the improvements..

Further information

For prioritisation of walking and cycling activities, see:

2024-27 NLTP Investment Prioritisation Method