Auckland central's Karangahape Rd is brought to life this afternoon with Open Streets, a street festival ahead of major redesign plans -- and the best part -- no cars are involved.
The stretch of K Rd from Upper Queen St through to Ponsonby Rd will be completely vehicle-free from 12pm to 7pm, making way for street art, music, food and bikes, in a collaborative effort between Auckland Transport and the K Rd Business Association.
The road is split into six different "districts", including live music from local bands throughout the afternoon, live art with participation from the public and a cabaret performance from Mika Haka in the Red Light District.
(Auckland Transport)
Auckland Transport told Newshub the artists will be local, with ties to the street, either from working or living there.
Toward the end of the closed off area, a 5-aside football tournament will take place on an artificial pitch as part of The West End Park zone.
An appearance from Frocks On Bikes and a treasure hunt with Bike Auckland will take place in the afternoon.
The festival is not only designed to celebrate the street's eclectic culture, but to encourage input toward an Auckland Transport and Auckland Council initiative to support pedestrians and cyclists along the road.
(Supplied)
The K Rd Street Scape Enhancement plan will include a redesign of the urban space and aims to create protected cycle lanes, something that was called for by Generation Zero in 2014.
"At the event we will be talking to people about some of the options we've been working through and it's a great opportunity to speak to the community about the wider plans," says Auckland Transport walking and cycling manager Kathryn King.
Ms King says K Rd is a crucial link for people cycling around Auckland, connecting Ponsonby, Parnell and the city centre.
But it will also be a crucial hub for pedestrians and public transport.
"We know with the City Rail Link there will be a big increase in the number of people accessing K Rd by foot," she says.
Ms King says they are looking at creating cycle lanes that sit alongside the pavement but are raised above carriage-way level and protected from the general traffic.
She says the design of a concrete curb, used to protect other Auckland central cycleways on Beach Rd, Nelson Rd and Quay Rd will not work on K Rd.
"[We need to] develop something for K Rd that's more fitting for the streetscape and better for pedestrians to get across."
She says within the next couple of months Auckland Transport will be approaching the wider community with plans and hopes to get those plans constructed within the next two years.
Newshub.
