$8,000 per metre of cycleways!

Stuff reports:

Auckland Transport is taking flak for promising 129 fewer kilometres of cycle lanes than Wellington at almost eight times the cost per kilometre.

Last Friday, Auckland mayor Phil Goff announced a $1 billion climate action package aimed at reducing carbon emissions and delivering more buses, ferries, cycling and walking options as well as an urban tree canopy across the city.

More than $144 million will be spent on about 18km of cycle infrastructure – at a cost of about $8m per kilometre. Meanwhile, Wellington is promising to provide 124km of bike lanes – on top of the 23km which already exists – over the next decade for about $1.5m a kilometre.

Women in Urbanism Aotearoa chairwoman and urban designer Emma McInnes said it was “utterly ridiculous” that less than 20 kilometres of cycle paths should cost so much money.

It is ridiculous, but this is what you get when people spend other people’s money. Ratepayers and taxpayers are just seen as an unlimited source of money for wasteful projects.

No cycleway should cost $8,000 per metre.