Decision-makers in towns like Hastings still don't understand the scale of the changes that are required to mitigate and address the climate and environmental crisis we face, argues Jess Berentson-Shaw
Opinion: I spent the long weekend in Hastings and the regeneration taking place in the town is quite amazing.
I used to spend a bit of time there as a kid and the difference between 1990s Hastings, gouged out by rapid deregulation and Rogernomics, and Hastings in 2022 is heartening. It feels a more optimistic place.
What feels less optimistic is that people in the local government do not appear to be creating a city that works for our climate at the same time – to the casual visitor at least.
Hastings is a mainly flat city, set out in a grid system with wide roads and footpaths, it has a small but growing population with many young families (and their children) moving into the area as they are priced out of cities. It is perfect for really significant investment in active and public transport modes, and people and planet centric urban design.
However, there is little bike infrastructure to be seen, there are some painted lines on the roads (my favourite type of mode-shift washing), free or cheap central city parking, and a continued focus on moving cars and trucks smoothly through suburban areas.
Limited public transport (including no passenger trains to the region anymore). There is a new on-demand public bus service that is soon to start.
Like many growing provincial areas, housing developments continue to go out, not up. Many of my conversations in Hastings followed the same pattern: “I would ride a bike for getting around but I don't feel safe from all the cars”, “people get really upset if they have to pay for parking here,” and “I really hope people actually use the bus service, because it is just easier to drive”.
People-centric urban design to reduce emissions
As the fast moving and interacting crisis of climate change and inequality (driven especially by housing inequality) are being felt in all places across our motu, regenerating cities like Hastings have the opportunity to use transport and urban design transformation to respond and build climate and people positive cities.
They can prioritise public and active modes of transport while actively discouraging people who do not need to from driving cars, focus on building up not out to provide low cost, high quality homes, allocate large green spaces for play, and focus on important climate change mitigation strategies including addressing water quality and allocation issues in a just way for examples
Lacking the right tools for the job
Yet for many cities, including Hastings, these types of large scale actions are nowhere near where they need to be. Partly because people in the central and local government still don't understand the scale of the changes that are required to mitigate and address the climate and environmental crisis we face. And when they do attempt to create cities that will support our kids into the future they do not have the right tools or ingredients to work with.
At the same time I was visiting Hastings, it was announced that the construction of Wellington's Newtown to the City cycleways would be halted for three months until a judicial review because a handful of people in business along the route (most who own car-related businesses) are objecting to the process that was used to put in the temporary cycle way. They are definitely not anti-cycle way, they tell us.
What they definitely are for is continuing to have their business subsidised by Wellington people by ensuring the publicly-owned street space in front of their businesses remains allocated to parking for their customers' cars.
The law(s) are an ass (but people do know it)
In part these types of (perfectly legal but stupendously ridiculous) objections are happening because of an outdated set of laws that prioritise the few people currently using a car park, over the needs of many people who need to be able to ride a bike, or walk, take a bus, or drive for their health and the health of the planet.
The requirement that councils consult on the removal of every single car park when putting in cycle infrastructure or wider foot paths, or allocating more space on the road to buses or other public transport modes, is an outdated law that lacks common sense in the age we live in, and prevents the necessary long term planning councils are trying to do.
The good news is that the recent Emissions Reduction Plan recognised the need for this law to be changed. On page 179 is the following:
“Reshaping streets – accelerate widespread street changes to support public transport, active travel and placemaking.
► Incentivise local government to quickly deliver bike/scooter networks, dedicated bus lanes, and walking improvements by reallocating street space (including during street renewals).
► Consider regulatory changes to make it simpler and quicker to make street changes.
► Scale up Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Innovating Streets for People programme to rapidly trial street changes.”
Such changes cannot come fast enough. And these will not be the only ones we find getting in the way of good long term decision making – we must be prepared for naming them and advocating for speedier reviews of them in the future.
Last week, Anna Fifield, the editor of The Dominion Post, took a clear stand for the planet and for all the kids, parents, and people who want a city where riding a bike and walking is the easiest option, and ran a series of articles explaining the science and the need for accelerated mode shift.
It is people like Fifield in the media, the many people working hard across local government, central government, business, and community organisations to make sure we do respond to climate change that gives me hope. And with the right ingredients, including the right policies and laws in place to support and embolden them, we can open our cities and streets and make them great places for all people to live.
