We are making street changes to make it easier for people to get around Wellington on foot or using mobility devices like wheelchairs or prams.
Pedestrian crossings that are slightly raised to footpath level make it safer and easier for everyone to cross including people who are vision-impaired, wheelchair users and people with prams. They help encourage safer traffic speeds and make it easier for people driving to see people crossing.
Raised zebra crossings near bus stops, shops and schools give pedestrians easier, safer crossing options.
We can help free up footpaths for people walking by providing safer spaces on the road for people on bikes and scooters. Bike lanes help encourage newer and less confident riders off the footpath, by separating them from car traffic.
In some locations, footpaths can be widened, and obstructions like poles and signs moved to create more space for pedestrians including people with pushchairs or wheelchairs. Ramps on and off footpaths, also called kerb cuttings, can also be improved to make transitions from the road to the footpath easier and smoother.
Slower traffic speeds are particularly important for people walking and on bikes. Through shopping areas and near schools, we look to create more pleasant and safer experiences for people on foot by encouraging safer vehicle speeds with speed cushions, raising and adding pedestrian crossings, and other improvements. This means we can sometimes keep more parking for businesses rather than continuing separated bike lanes.
We look at places where a shared path for people walking and biking might be appropriate. This is usually on quiet paths where there are low numbers of people walking, and where people would be biking more slowly. These are usually just short sections of path or uphill only.
When we’re looking at how to make areas better for pedestrians, this includes looking at the amount of mobility parking available in the area and what might be needed. Our working group for street changes includes accessibility advocates who provide advice on where mobility parks should go.