[!ai]
Regular cyclist showing strongest comprehensive support across all categories. Prioritises safety infrastructure, protected cycleways, and school zones. Specifically addresses Portsmouth Drive and views active transport as fundamental rather than optional. Balances commuter, school, and recreational needs effectively.
Kia ora Devonia,
Thank you for reaching out and for the important work Spokes does in advocating for cycling and active transport across Ōtepoti. As someone who regularly uses a bike to get around Dunedin, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities and challenges our city faces in making active transport safer, easier, and more enjoyable. Please find my responses to your questions below:
My vision is for a Dunedin where active transport is not an afterthought but a core part of how we plan and move around the city. Speaking from experience as a cyclist, I know how much safer and more enjoyable our city could be if we invested properly in walking, biking, and public transport. I will advocate for safer crossings, traffic-calming measures in residential areas, and a reliable, affordable bus network. These actions will help people feel confident leaving the car at home, reduce congestion, and create a healthier, more connected city.
My top priorities are repairing and upgrading footpaths (particularly in high-use areas and around schools), completing key protected cycleways that connect to the central city and university, and fixing unsafe intersections. These are not optional extras, they are urgent safety investments. I would rank them alongside water infrastructure and other core spending because safe, reliable transport is just as fundamental to how a city functions.
When you walk or cycle, it is clear which spaces feel safe and inviting, and which do not. I support quieter, traffic-calmed streets and want George Street completed as a people-focused hub that is accessible for small businesses and pedestrians alike. The Octagon should be our civic heart, with more space for events, social connection, and accessibility, not just a cut-through for cars. Across the city, better lighting, seating, and green spaces will improve quality of life and make public areas welcoming for people of all ages and abilities.
Kā mihi nui,
Jett Groshinski
Labour Endorsed Candidate for Dunedin City Council