Autumn is upon us and many Auckland cyclists consider the milder conditions the best to get on their bikes and use pedal power to move around the city.
To help cyclists and would-be-cyclists on their way, a series of online, interactive cycle maps have been launched today to provide up-to-date information and help Aucklanders plan their active transport routes around the region.
The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) has teamed up with Google, the Ministry of Transport and the wider cycling community to create the maps that chart Auckland’s cycling facilities and infrastructure. The cycle maps also provide valuable safety information regarding areas where there have been recent cycle and motor vehicle incidents.
ARTA General Manger Strategy and Planning, Peter Clark says “The online maps depict useful information that will help Aucklanders plan effective cycle routes around the region.
“It gives people the tools to plan the best way to get where they want to go by bicycle. For example, if you’re a relatively inexperienced cyclists you may wish to avoid a particularly busy junction or you may want to plan to stop at a café with secure cycle parking facilities if you’re on a leisure ride.”
The information on the online maps has been transferred and updated from ARTA’s comprehensive set of five regional cycle maps that were launched in December 2008.
“The key to this initiative is that it’s interactive; cyclists can help us keep the information on these maps relevant and up-to-date. The paper-based maps have been enormously successful but as everything changes they can quickly become out-dated. The online maps allow cyclists to input information directly onto the maps through the MAXX website, therefore helping to keep the details current and accurate for all,” says Mr Clark.
To view the maps and to print them off for when you are on the road please visit maxx.co.nz. You can also find more information on the website about how to make a contribution to the cycle maps by simply following the links.
