Our vision for walking and cycling

Lower Hutt's walking and cycling network is scheduled to grow over the next few years, with new cycleways and shared paths developed on key routes.

Our infrastructure investment partners are the NZ Transport Agency, and the Urban Cycleways Fund.

The new facilities will make it easier and safer to get around the city on foot and by bike. There will also be road safety campaigns, cycle skills training, events and promotions to encourage more people to bike more often. We've summarised this programme of activities in the Walk and Cycle the Hutt Plan 2014-2019 (PDF 2.3MB).

Wellington Regional Trails for the Future

Wellington Regional Trails for the Future (PDF 2.5MB) is a guide to development of a world-class recreational trails network for all users, including trampers and mountain bikers, for the benefit of residents and visitors in the Wellington region.

It sets out a strategic approach for consistent planning, development, management and promotion of an integrated, sustainable trail network by the region’s trail managers, partners and communities.

It aims to improve the health, lifestyle and social benefits flowing to the region’s residents through safe, quality trails that access the region’s exceptional and diverse landscapes and urban parklands.

It recognises the region’s strong traditions of trail development, use, community participation and stewardship.

It also aims to achieve economic benefits for the region and its communities from trail tourism and its associated revenue, employment and business opportunities, increasing the broader tourism offer of the region.

Major urban cycleway projects

Our three key projects are:

Wainuiomata Hill Shared Path

A new, separated shared cycling and pedestrian path connecting Wainuiomata, a satellite town of 16,000 people, to jobs and education in the wider Hutt Valley. Currently this high speed road link over the Wainuiomata Hill poses a high crash risk for cyclists and pedestrians.

Beltway

This 16km off-road shared path will connect residential areas to workplaces and employment hubs, Hutt Hospital, schools, the CBD and shopping areas. The Beltway will link the Wainuiomata Hill cycleway from Seaview through and eastern spine to meet the Rimutaka cycle trail at Taita.

The Beltway route will also provide connections to major public transport hubs, including Waterloo and Melling train stations.

Eastern Bays Shared Path

This 1.25km shared path along the primary corridor will connect residents in the eastern bays to workplaces, schools, shops and public transport facilities in the rest of Lower Hutt.

In the future it'll connect through to the Wellington CBD by joining up and connecting to existing cycleways. It'll also connect to the Wainuiomata Hill Shared Path and the Beltway cycleway.

Other major routes

The NZ Transport Agency is developing plans for Safe Cycling Routes (NZTA Website) in the State Highway 2 corridor from Petone to Melling, and Petone to Ngauranga.

Read about the Rimutaka Cycle Trail: a new tourism venture for the region and part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail initiative. Our shared paths also form part of this project.