Cycling Manukau

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland | 2025-2026

Community Think was contracted by Auckland Transport to support the development of a community-led cycling activation plan for Manukau, as part of the wider Human Infrastructure of Cycling (HIC) programme. Manukau has been identified as a priority area for developing safe cycling networks and — while infrastructure upgrades are underway — evidence has shown that physical improvements alone are not enough to increase cycling uptake. 

It was crucial that any solutions were shaped by local knowledge and priorities. To help ensure this, we designed and delivered an engagement process with members of the Manukau community. This involved establishing a local guiding group, generating project awareness, and facilitating a series of interactive co-design workshops to come up with ideas about how to make cycling more accessible, safe and appealing. Ideas from the workshops were then tested further with locals and the guiding group and developed into an activation plan. 

This plan is divided into ‘main activations’ that create opportunities for people to participate and experience cycling, and ‘supporting activations’ that help remove barriers and make ongoing participation feel achievable and sustainable. These include a mobile bike repair service, a loan-to-own pilot scheme, and regular community bike days.