Marlborough Walking and Cycling Strategy 1. Introduction 1.1 Why have a Walking and Cycling Strategy? This strategy has been developed to show what facilities we currently have and what is proposed in Marlborough, to encourage walking and cycling as safe, environmentally friendly, healthy and enjoyable travel and recreation options. The strategy outlines what we will do to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle and gives some background about why this is important for the future of Marlborough. The strategy identifies prioritised implementation, education and promotion initiatives and aims to reflect the public's wishes for walking and cycling provision. 1.2 What kinds of walking and cycling are covered? While Council supports all forms of walking and cycling, the focus of this strategy is on walking and cycling as a form of transport including commuting, leisure and recreation. All roads and footpaths are included. The strategy offers ideas and actions which would make roads more user friendly for walkers and cyclists and ideally make walking or cycling the preferred choice for many of our trips to work or school. In this strategy “pedestrians” or “walkers” are all people travelling by foot or using a powered wheelchair, mobility scooter or a wheeled means of conveyance propelled by human power (e.g. skateboard) other than a cycle. Thus walking is an activity that must be accessible for a wide range of people of varied physical abilities and mobility levels. This strategy acknowledges all forms of cycling, including cycling for transport, sports and recreational purposes. Cycling can be facilitated on-road (e.g. with cycle lanes), off-road but within the road corridor (e.g. shared paths adjacent to the road) or off-road and away from the road corridor (e.g. paths through parks or mountain bike tracks). NZTA funding focuses mainly on transport or on-road commuter cycling. However, this funding can assist in supporting purely recreational off-road activities such as mountain biking, by ensuring there are high quality opportunities for accessing facilities provided for these activities by cycle. There are also other opportunities for funding, for example through Council Parks and Reserves budgets to fund off-road facilities. The basic premise of this strategy is that by encouraging more recreational cycling, more people will be inspired to begin to cycle for transport purposes also. Recreational cycling activities such as mountain biking, and destination cycling are becoming increasingly popular activities with the potential to attract tourists from overseas and other parts of New Zealand. Studies have shown that cycle tourists stay longer in a region than other tourists and consequently contribute more to the local economy. Marlborough, with its stunning scenery, favourable climate and local attractions, is a prime candidate for cycle tourists. Therefore, this strategy seeks to develop opportunities not only for local cyclists but also for visitors to the region. A cycling valedrome concept has been promoted by sports cycling representatives along with a BMX and/or mountain bike skills park or pump track. The base of the Wither Hills mountain bike park has been identified as a potential site for these proposed facilities. Page 5