17 Jun 2021

Wellington for walkers as downtown to go car-free

From Checkpoint, 5:17 pm on 17 June 2021

Wellington council hopes getting cars off the Golden Mile will give it more shine.

A car ban will come into place in 2024 for the route from Courtenay Place to the Beehive - with the council saying it will be better for the city.

But it is certainly not without controversy. Here's what the citizens had to say.

Dave Woods called it "ridiculous ... typical council, very anti-business."

Eva Yocum is all for it if done right. "If there's plans for good car parking around and there's enough access for disabled people ... in time, I think it's a really good idea."

Wellington City councillor Tamatha Paul is a supporter of the move.

She said it would encourage people to go for other ways of getting around.

"The way that Wellington will be moving is that more people will be able to be moving freely through the streets. People ... walking, in wheelchairs, on bikes, on e-scooters, people with prams ... it's about different ways that people can move about the city."

She said people needed to have a look at the evidence that showed it worked in cities around the world.

Aaron Packard likes it from a walker's perspective.

"Personally, I think it's fantastic from the pedestrian's perspective. I do feel for the shops ... they've got some serious issues. I hope as the council rolls it out they can work with the shops to find solutions for their concerns."