Accessible Streets Te Āhei ki te Whakamahi Ara

In February 2020, Cabinet agreed to a public consultation on the draft amendment rules in the Accessible Streets Regulatory Package. Waka Kotahi hosted the consultation between March and May.

The consultation asked for feedback on the proposed new Land Transport Rule: Paths and Road Margins and proposed changes to three other Land Transport Rules:

• Road User
• Traffic Control Devices
• Setting of Speed Limits.

Under the proposed new rules anyone riding a device on the footpath must give way to pedestrians, not exceed a speed limit of 15km/h, and the device must be no wider than 75cm. After consulting with their local community, local authorities would be able to reduce the maximum footpath speed limit and restrict which devices can be used on certain areas of footpaths or at particular times, such as during busy times or in areas with lots of pedestrians. The new rules also propose to allow people to cycle on the footpath — this is primarily to allow children to cycle with confidence.

The consultation asked for feedback on a number of other proposed Rule changes aimed at making streets safer for vulnerable users. These include requiring a minimum overtaking gap when passing vulnerable road users like cyclists, horse riders or those walking on roads without footpaths. The proposed minimum overtaking gap is 1 metre when the speed limit is 60km/h or lower and 1.5 metres when the speed limit is over 60km/h.

Note that although we lodged documents for Cabinet consideration in November 2019,Cabinet consideration was postponed due to full Cabinet committee agendas. Some documents were subsequently amended before being considered by Cabinet in February 2020.

Accessible Streets consultation(external link)

In May 2019 Cabinet authorised ministers to develop the draft amendments to the Land Transport Rules for the proposed Accessible Streets Package. The amendments were designed to reflect the new ways that people travel and to increase their safety when using the transport system.

We worked with the Parliamentary Counsel Office and Waka Kotahi to draft the Rule changes. While drafting, it became apparent that it would be necessary to develop a new Rule (Land Transport Rule: Paths and Road Margins) because some of the proposed changes could not be accommodated in existing Land Transport Rules.

We developed a draft package of regulatory changes for Cabinet to review. Initially called the Vulnerable Users and Pathways Package, it it was later named the Accessible Streets Regulatory Package. We worked closely with Waka Kotahi to develop the draft Cabinet paper and Regulatory Impact Statement, and also received feedback from the police.

We started working with our government transport partners on a new road safety strategy and a planned programme of short to medium-term initiatives to improve road safety. This included an initiative to amend transport rules to improve safety and accessibility for vulnerable users.

Road to Zero

We provided the Associate Minister of Transport with background information on how New Zealanders use public transport, and when they walk and cycle. We also noted opportunities to increase the uptake of public transport and active modes of transport.

Challenges include high rates of private car ownership and use in New Zealand. Benefits include low costs and minimal space required for parking — the devices also complement public transport.