Biking advocacy group Spokes surveyed candidates for Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council’s Dunedin ward on their attitude towards active transport, cycling infrastructure and safer public spaces.
Group secretary Nathan Kershaw said Spokes was delighted by the amount of responses - 43 of the 62 candidates surveyed (68%) answered the group’s questions.
"I was also pleasantly surprised by quite a few sort of traditionally conservative candidates actually cared about some of the same things that we did, and that we’ve got quite a lot of commonality with them."
Mayoral candidates Jules Radich (incumbent), Marie Laufiso, Mickey Treadwell, Lianna Macfarlane, David Milne and Lync Aronson did not respond to the survey.
Dr Kershaw said the candidates elected to the regional and city councils would determine "what happens on the ground" for Dunedin’s livability and active transport.
"We’ve always valued our relationship with the council and if anything ever is achieved, it’s got to be in partnership with them."
He hoped the survey could steer voters towards candidates with "good vision" on matters such as public transport and cycling infrastructure.
"The majority [of answers] are clearly full of thought and reflected that this is something that is a real issue."
Several city council candidates stressed the importance of connecting Dunedin’s cycleways, improving public spaces or extending pedestrianisation projects.
Mayoral candidate Sophie Barker said she hoped by 2030, Dunedin had a great choice of safe, affordable and planet-friendly transport options.
"An important focus is on ensuring we create attractive, accessible public spaces for everyone to enjoy," Cr Barker said.
Fellow mayoral candidate and councillor Lee Vandervis said cycleways on the one-way system should be rerouted through safer streets which would return carparks throughout the city.
He said he supported a cycleway crossing across Portsmouth Dr and, given the opportunity, would push the measure through as a "top priority".
Common themes in regional council candidates’ answers were working with the city council on shared transport goals and improving public transport.
The survey results are available online at spokes.nz
