Active Coastlines: Implementing a sustainable transport scheme for Evans Bay, Wellington

With the rise of popularity in cars and the decrease of public open space in our urban centres, there is an increasing pressure to find alternative modes of transportation. Human powered transport in New Zealand is becoming more popular over the last decade, however it is often let down by the isolation and functionality of the existing infrastructure. Active transport can be understood as an alternative mode that is strictly human powered - whether it be cycling, walking, jogging, scootering or other modes allowing for a more sustainable network. The current infrastructure development is evolved around vehicular transport and other modes are considered secondary, further highlighting our cultural reliance on the motor vehicle.  This research aims to reconfigure how sustainable transport is considered, in order to promote and implement active transport into our cities. Creating a sustainable link with the exclusion of cars, offers the opportunity to establish a unique sequence of spaces that is responsive to the human scale and environment. Landscape Architecture has the ability to adapt and restore natural systems in conjunction with public spaces to build healthier and environmentally conscious communities.  The proposed site for this research is Evans Bay, located in the centre of the harbour in Wellington, New Zealand. The public spaces following the bay suffer intense degradation to the natural ecologies, due to urban development and weather conditions. The current cycleway is a disconnected and unsafe path for local commuters to travel through. The research aims to re-develop the Evans Bay esplanade into a diverse active highway, offering all active modes a safer path. The design will be responsive and inclusive to ecological and communal factors producing a multitude of spaces for Wellington’s sustainable network.