Thanks for the article, David, I’ve looked longingly at the way some European cities just seem to be able to get on and improve their cities without the pathological attachment to the private motor vehicle that happens in the public and the planners here. Your ideas for Christchurch are great, yet here in NZ we are going to spend $11 billion on new motorways. So even more than the Copenhagenisation of Christchurch, I would like to see the Denmarkisation of New Zealand, it would make rather more sense then the Australianisation which seems to saturate everyone’s mind in NZ.

In which case other things that help cycling are :

• Much higher taxation on petrol
• High taxes on new and imported secondhand motor vehicles
• Many more streets pedestrianised – this is a vital part of a cycling infrastructure.
• Lower speeds in residential areas, say 30kph,
• Higher investment in high quality modern public transport. Light rail. Integrated ticketing. etc. paid for, if needed, with a congestion charge on private vehicles.
• A rather more densely populated central city, there must be major opportunities in rebuilding Christchurch to develop mixed use areas with shopping, pubs, apartments, squares, parklets, and keeping the bl..dy motor car in its place. (My wife and I have a car each, so when I appear anti-car, I am more pro-walking/public transport/cycling/humane urbanisation. We also have a bicycle each, Wellington is far from an ideal city for cycling as it’s so hilly, but for those living in the flatter areas here, then there’s certainly room for more cyclists. ) Areas not suitable for building should be abandoned, and as as many families as possible encouraged to think differently about their life-style in Christchurch, the last thing we need is more sprawl and yet more productive land put into concrete. There may need to be financial incentives initially.
• There is something rather odd about New Zealanders, as even the cyclists here, at least in Wellington, are appallingly aggressive, disobeying road signs, riding stupidly, and generally being idiots. Put a New Zealander on wheels, cars, cycles, skate boards, whatever, and you go barmy. I think I’m taking education here. A few fines to unruly cyclists might not go amiss either.
• Nice architecture, Copenhagen is a beautiful city, most New Zealand cities fall well short. Christchurch has to aim very high in its rebuilding. I am not that enamoured by New Zealand architecture, which is almost universally banal. If you have nice streets to cycle on, it’s much nicer than feeling you’re cycling in some urban canyon or industrial park.
• It’s a totally holistic approach, that is part local, but also importantly national. There needs to be real change in mindset in the politicians/planners/public, starting at the top. I am not confident that our present administration or even Labour have a clue, petrol heads rule and drill baby drill seems to be the present ethos.
• It’s great there are enthusiastic people like you to guide us and hopefully get some real traction in the council/government. As always, significant change in society starts at the bottom.
• Would Prof Jan Gehl of Copenhagen be prepared to help?
• Before the oil shocks in the late 1970s, Denmark’s GDP per capita was around US$ 17,750, New Zealand’s around US$17,250, almost identical. Following the oil shocks, Denmark and New Zealand seriously diverged as to how they would manage the economy. Denmark made long term plans in regard to energy use, high taxes on petrol/cars, energy efficiency and alternative energy resources, amongst many other things, New Zealand went to a laissez-fair market driven economy, where long term planning is an anathema and energy resources were squandered. The result is that now Denmark’s GDP per capita is US$56,147 and New Zealand’s US$32,000. In other words, a) New Zealand’s infatuation with Australia is infantile, b) high petrol taxes and lots of bicycles are an essential component of a thriving economy.

PS It is true that Australia’s per capita GDP is nearly as great as Denmark’s, but which country is actually more comparable with ours? Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Norway are also much wealthier than we are.