Kate Hawkesby: Cycle bridge in Auckland ain't happening

 

I extend thoughts and prayers for cyclists this morning.

It looks like their precious bridge crossing may be confined to the scrap heap.

As is was predicted moments after it was announced, and got an almost unanimous negative response – gosh even some cyclists thought it was a dumb idea, it’s likely now it’ll never happen.

Grant Robertson yesterday wouldn't confirm or deny the cycle bridge, only to say that they ‘continually look at the transport network to see it works well’.

That’s politician speak for – it’s toast.

Kate Hawkesby: So we can pay for cyclists, but not the America's Cup?

 

So I’m just not sure how we reconcile almost a billion dollars for a bridge for cyclists, which, by the way, will bring us zero economic return, yet we can put the brakes on the cheque book at $99 million for the America’s Cup.

The problems are complex. There wasn’t enough cash in the offer, that $99 million included ‘support in kind,’ so their base facilities and so on. But it just wasn’t enough.

And though many of us don’t care or think it’s just a rich man’s sport or whatever, you can’t discount the kudos, people, money and tourism it brings into the country. The millions pumped into the economy, the feel good factor, the job creation, the buzz.

Kate Hawkesby: Are we going to rush out buying electric vehicles...I don't think so

 

So we have on the back of the new cycle bridge for bikes, news of discounts for EV cars.

There should be no one in the dark as to where this government's priorities are by now.

But how much of it's actually going to happen?

The activist cyclists were breathless with excitement that their random peddle protest across the bridge had elicited real action. But hopefully they’ve cooled down their lycra enough to know it’ll probably never happen. Likewise I am skeptical about us all running out and snapping up EV's.

Garrick Tremain: Jacinda's Bike Bridge

 Here is Garrick Tremain's cartoon commentary on Jacinda's bike bridge!