Tis the season to be readin’
Summer is coming (supposedly), but even if the weather isn’t playing ball, at least holidays are coming. And with a bit more time to breathe, we thought we’d suggest some good reading for you good folks wanting better cities.
First, if you need a catch up
A quick summary of all the hot transport issues, with other more in depth links too.
More people cycling, more $$$
Christmas is coming, and your Uncle/Brother/Mother in Law might wanna talk about how removing some of the car parks in the local shopping centre for bike lanes will ruin the poor businesses already reeling from COVID. Read up to help bring them around!
Shared vege gardens ≠ communism
Aaand another one for those around the Christmas table who think community vege gardens are a slippery slope to communism. This is a really nice way to help imagine a better city for more people, and show that it may not be as scary as it’s sometimes made out to be.
It’s not stealing, it’s borrowing
Have a wee spy on what Tāmaki Makaurau is up to and think about what we want to steal for Wellington!
As far as transport’s concerned, there’s plenty of “oh for goodness sake just do something to Get Wellington Moving” but without a clear vision we’re on track to burn a lot of public money and potentially make our city centre worse. (Top tip – heads up, journalists: try asking those “just build it already” people what they propose is “just built already”. If it’s “do the second tunnel already the traffic at the Basin is terrible”, this nifty series flags the better way!
Overall:
Let’s Get Wellington Moving, let’s get Wellington living!
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
But the clear better vision has to come from the top, and the emphasis on explaining why we would do these things. Not asking, just explaining why the good stuff is happening… and getting on with that.
Submission deadlines stop for nobody
If you’ve got any energy left for thinking and disappointment and submissions, Eye of the Fish present a map of a proposed development in Swan Lane and Garrett St that lacks much pizazz for such an iconic part of the city. Submissions close 22nd December *sigh* but cheer up, all you need to do is a very basic submission!
- a thumbs up to the Traffic Resolution
- in the comments box just “why not turn the dial more towards people on these laneways?” Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Super Wellington?
All our cities have problems, and becoming a supercity hasn’t fixed them all for Auckland, but is amalgamation something Te Whanganui a Tara should be considering?
The future of housing
As I’m sure you’re aware by now, Aotearoa finds itself in the midst of an ever worsening housing crisis. Although a big part of that is social housing, there’s also a big need for a bunch of stuff in the middle. Check out a couple of less traditional ways to fill the gap.
Rethinking road tolls
We report the road toll as if the people who are killed and injured in accidents are the only people having their health affected by transport. Let’s take a more holistic look.
Shelly Bathing in controversy
A lovely summary of the whole Shelly Bay situation, incorporated with the tale of ngā taniwha o te Upoko o te Ika a Maui.
Codesign-washing
If you want your tactical urbanism project to work, then you need community buy in, and community input at every stage. With Innovating Streets kicking into action, we need to make sure we’re keeping that thought front of mind. Luckily, two awesome wāhine have written a good guide.
An actual physical book!
Lee Vinsel and Andrew L. Russell have explored our questionable urge to prioritise everything new and shiny and ignore maintenance.
Image Credits:
Cover image: Alexandre Dulaunoy
Duplex: A J Andrus
Map: Eye of the fish
Ape GIF: LoathsomeMerryIndianplamsquirrel
Shelly Bay entrance: Eye of the fish
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