Spokes Canterbury (Cycle Advocacy) is pleased to see the government’s latest land transport reform package, which is a step forward towards a safer transport environment for people outside of motor vehicles.
E-Scooters Allowed to Use Cycle Lanes
This long-awaited change acknowledges the growing role of e-scooters in our transport ecosystem. Separating active transport modes by speed and vulnerability is something Spokes has been in favour of for a while. By allowing e-scooters to use cycle lanes, we are promoting a more integrated approach to micro-mobility, enhancing safety for all users (especially pedestrians on footpaths), and encouraging more people to choose sustainable transport options. The government should fund value-for-money cycleway infrastructure for the benefit of a wide range of mobility options.
Children Allowed to Ride Bikes on Footpaths
This change removes the wheel size limitation currently in place and is great to see. We would also like to see protections for both pedestrians and children cycling on the footpath, such as better sight lines around driveways, but this is a good step forward.
Minimum Overtaking Gap for Passing Cyclists and Horse Riders
The introduction of a minimum overtaking distance is a crucial safety measure that will help protect cyclists and horse riders (and horses) on our roads by making it a legal requirement to pass at a safe distance. We strongly support a 1.5 metre gap for cyclists and hope that it will be implemented quickly.
Requiring Vehicles to Give Way to Buses Exiting Bus Stops
Spokes supports a fast, frequent and reliable public transport network. Reliability can hinge on how often buses get stuck in traffic. Bus priority lanes and traffic signals help, as will requiring drivers to give way to buses every time the bus re-enters the flow of traffic. This will help speed up bus services and provide better reliability, which will help make busing a more attractive option. Increasing the patronage of public transport reduces congestion.
Consultation begins February 2026 and shall be signed by June 2026. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/taking-handbrake-productivity-through-transport-rule-reform
For more information about Spokes Canterbury and our initiatives, please visit our website at www.spokes.org.nz.
