Onehunga cycle connection
We're working to make it safer and easier to bike and scoot around Onehunga and Royal Oak by planning cycle facilities and initiatives to encourage cycling.
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Project details
Start date
February 2025End date
2030 or laterLocation
Onehunga and Royal OakTransport involved
CyclingOverview
Auckland Council’s Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate (CATTR) includes funding to build about 3km of safe cycling facilities between Onehunga and Royal Oak.
A cycling connection between Onehunga and Royal Oak could link many key places, such as train and bus stations, schools and the town centre. It could also create a better-connected safe cycle network by building upon existing cycleways in the area such as:
- Waikaraka Path
- Southwestern Cycleway
- Ngā Hau Māngere bridge.
The project will address other barriers to cycling through initiatives such as cycle skills training, secure bike parking and better wayfinding. There will also be activities, services and events that encourage and support more cycling in the community.
Latest updates
We have heard from local people about:
- how they travel around Onehunga now
- how they might want to travel in the future
- what stops them cycling more.
We wanted to understand the current trips people take between where they live, work, shop, learn and so on. This work has helped to identify cycling connections to investigate further.
Travel survey
We sent a travel survey to 3,500 local households (1,384 responses). Around 20% of respondents currently cycle at least once a week. Of the 80% who do not currently cycle, over half said they would consider cycling around Onehunga in the future.
Stalls at Onehunga events and other public places
We interviewed around 100 local people about:
- how they travel around Onehunga now
- if they would like to travel by bike.
If they said they would like to travel by bike, we also asked where to, and what is stopping them from doing this.
Meetings with key stakeholders
We met with stakeholders such as the Onehunga Business Association, Cornwall Park Trust and the Onehunga Bike Hub.
Focus groups
We held 4 focus group sessions with 38 local people in total. Some currently cycle and some do not. We wanted to understand the local travel behaviours and barriers to cycling in more detail.
Results
These insights have helped identify 2 potential connections to take forward in the investigation phase:
- a north-south connection, between Onehunga town centre and Cornwall Park
- an east-west connection, north of the Onehunga town centre connecting to schools.
The connections are shown on the Figure 1 map. In June 2025, the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board endorsed the start of the investigation phase of the project.
Timeline
Project investigation
In this phase, we will assess streets to understand what type of cycle improvement is best. We will identify benefits, costs and impacts. We will discuss them with the local board, stakeholders and wider public. This could include:
- changes to berm space and footpaths
- kerbside use such as parking or bus stop locations
- intersection layout
- traffic speed or volumes.
Project design and construction
Any design and construction depends on the outcomes of the prior investigation phase. It also needs confirmation of funding and endorsement from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board. In the design phase, we will:
- work on the detailed design
- get internal approvals such as consenting, safety audits, funding confirmation
- finalise the design.
Project background
Important cycle connections already exist in the area. One is to the south-east along the Onehunga foreshore and the south-west along State Highway 20. There is another further south on Ngā Hau Māngere bridge. Māngere West Cycling Improvements (currently in construction) will complete a connection to Auckland Airport. Many locals work at and around the airport.
Eke Panuku is planning a shared path in Onehunga between the train station and the wharf. They are also planning improvements through the town centre. AT is working closely with Eke Panuku to align with their planned work.