Ngā Tiriti Ngangahau – Māngere ebike trial - Stage 2 Aotearoa New Zealand needs a model for successful e-bike use in lower-income communities. A three-stage trial process has been conceptualised, building success from increasingly ambitious trials. This report focuses on Stage 2 – e-bikes in everyday life. Thanks to Auckland Transport E-bikes and accessories were made available to forty participants for a 3-month trial period between November 2022 and June 2023. Participant recruitment, skills training, community rides, bike maintenance and social support were undertaken by TTT with programme support and evaluation by the research team. Participants’ e-bike use, mode shift, and feedback during the trial suggests that e-bikes have the potential to increase healthy and sustainable transportation in the Māngere area. Read the report here.
Ngā Tiriti Ngangahau – Māngere ebike trial - Stage 1 Mackie Research are partnering with Auckland Transport, Massey University, and local Māngere bike hub and training provider Triple Teez to better understand what is needed to encourage e-bike uptake in lower income communities. The team will provide skills training and an e-bike for day-to-day use to Māngere residents, community organisations and workplaces. Mackie Research and Massey University will work with participants and training providers to identify the opportunities for e-bike use, barriers to accessing, using, maintaining, and retaining e-bikes and low-cost options for facilitating e-bike uptake. Read the Wave 1 findings.
Rural Crossroad Crashes In New Zealand, crashes at rural cross-roads are relatively common despite low traffic volumes on most rural roads. Rural crossroad crashes disproportionally result in fatalities and serious injuries. Follow several serious crashes, Waka Kotahi commissioned Mackie Research to identify interventions to mitigate failure to yield crashes at rural intersections. The aim was to identify solutions that were sufficient to make a difference to driver perception and behaviour and, ultimately, crash risk and severity at minor rural cross-roads, while being cost-effective enough to be rolled out nationally. Through literature review and application of Human Factors principles, the team was able to identify a range of mitigations and treatment options that could now be trialled on road.
Motorcycling Safety - Problem Definition and Contextual Review Waka Kotahi commissioned Mackie Research to compile an evidence base that will assist in identifying the most critical motocyclist safety actions for Road to Zero Action Plans. The team completed a detailed review drawing on a range of quantitative data sources, operational reports, and research literature to suggest areas of investment that could be prioritised based on the available evidence.
Healthy Future Mobility Solutions - MBIE The goal of this research is to explore trends, challenges and opportunities to understand how transport systems should be designed to optimise both public health and broader wellbeing outcomes. Read More
Innovating Streets for People This project aims to deliver a guidance and support package to make it easier to deliver temporary physical changes to streets and improvements with a primary aim to impact safety,and deliver on community placemaking aspirations.
BikeReady Monitoring and Evaluation - NZ Transport Agency The purpose of this project is to monitor and evaluate the national cycling education system (Bikeready) in order to assess how effective the system is at improving safety and encouraging more people to ride.
Safe School Streets Trial - Auckland Transport This trial aims to reduce congestion and improve safety around urban schools using innovative school gate designs.
Leveraging transport disruption to influence changes The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event in New Zealand's recent history which has caused significant disruption to transport systems. What lessons from previous global disruptions provide insight into how we should respond to, and lever opportunities from, the next significant New Zealand disruption? Read More
Safe System in Practice Material - NZ Transport Agency The goal of this project is to revise the existing Safe System in Practise course book material to create a set of up-to-date, high quality reference materials on Safe System principles and evidence, which can then be used by the Transport Agency for educational purposes.
Safe and Healthy Streets South Auckland (SHSSA) - NZ Transport Agency The goal of this project is to ensure that the design of SHSSA is informed by learning and lessons from Te Ara Mua - Future Streets and that early evaluative inputs support beyond business-as-usual solutions. A process and outcome evaluation framework for the SHSSA is also being developed.
Trial of Pedestrian Pavement Lights for Implementation at Level Crossings - Beca The goal of this trial is to evaluate the effects of the pedestrian pavement lights (PPL) on pedestrian safety behaviour and perceptions. The research also investigates the relevance of the PPL and maze within the wider road context at each of the regional sites.
Coastal Walkway Level Crossing Trial - New Plymouth District Council NPDC is trialling three different treatments at three Coastal Walkway level crossing sites. The goal of the field trials is to evaluate the effects of the three treatments on Coastal Walkway user safety behaviour and perceptions.
Growing Resilience: Safer and Effective Light Vehicle Systems for Kiwifruit Orchard Applications using Continual Improvement - Zespri As part of its health and safety requirements Zespri required tools for the selection and use of light vehicles within Kiwifruit orchard environments. The goal was to identify key system factors that will make small vehicle operations inherently safer. A participatory process led to a summary matrix that outlined the suitability of vehicles for various applications, and Use Cases were developed to show how protective factors are present across the person/environment/vehicle system for real-world orchard applications.
Rural Intersection Active Warning System (RIAWS) Trial - NZTA The development, trial and implementation of a rural intersection safety system was part of a wider programme to address safety at high-risk intersections, under the umbrella of the Safer Journey’s road safety strategy. The purpose of the RIAWS trial was to demonstrate the development of a RIAWS in New Zealand and evaluate the system’s feasibility and effectiveness. Read More
Evaluation of the Bikes in Schools Programme - ACC Bikes in Schools is a complete biking package (bike tracks, bikes, and helmets) implemented in schools to enable all students to ride a bike on a regular basis. Bike On Charitable Trust and other regional and national funders support schools to establish Bikes in Schools. On behalf of ACC, Mackie Research conducted an evaluation of the initiative from 2016 to 2018. Overall, Bikes in School is a worthwhile and high valued initiative. The evaluation identified a number of factors that will enhance the benefits and sustainability of the initiative. A visual summary of the evaluation findings and full report can be accessed on ACC’s website www.accsportsmart.co.nz/cycling
Trial of Pedestrian Pavement Lights for Implementation at Level Crossings - Kiwirail A proposed upgrade to improve pedestrian safety at level crossings is to install flashing LED lights with signage in the footpath, activated by an oncoming train. This trial examined the effectiveness of pedestrian pavement lights on pedestrian safety.
Safe System Analysis of Pedestrian Road Trauma - NZ Transport Agency The aim of this project was to better understand the system context of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in New Zealand.
Evaluation of the Attitude Road Safety Education Project - Auckland Transport This project aimed to influence young people's attitudes to driving and road safety in an innovative and strengths-based way. The evaluation focused on both the design and effectiveness of the project and was based on a collaborative approach
Weather Activated Variable Speed Limit Trial - NZ Transport Agency This trial aims to improve driver safety by temporarily implementing reduced speed limits in specific weather conditions. Mackie Research is currently evaluating the design and operation of the system and assessing the initial effects on speed, travel time and driver perception.
Safety Risks and Interventions for Cyclists and Best Practice for Cycle Skills Training - NZTA The purpose of this research is to a) identify key cycle safety interventions through the application of a 'Cycling Swiss cheese model'; and b) provide guidance on a 'cycle skills training system that provides positive outcomes for cycling.
Southern Coromandel Safety Demonstration Project - NZ Transport Agency A project designed to implement road improvements on the Coromandel as part of a Safe System approach to improving motorcycle safety. The project is part of a suite of initiatives aimed at reducing casualties from motorcycle crashes in New Zealand, a problem that has emerged in recent years.
Federal Street Contra-Flow Cycling Evaluation - Auckland Transport The purpose of this evaluation was to understand the effect of the Federal Street contra-flow cycling treatments on safety, use and road user perceptions
Truck Driver Health and Wellbeing - LTSC and ACC Hamish Mackie completed a report for the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) and ACC evaluating the health and fitness of log-truck drivers and providing recommendations for action. Read More
Safer Schools Guide - NZTA In partnership with NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport, Mackie Research has contributed to the development of guides that aim to improve safety around schools. 'Safer Journeys for Rural Schools'- a technical guide for road controlling authorities and professionals 'Safer Journeys for Schools'- designed to help schools improve road safety in their community. To read the full reports click here
.Development of a national integrated cycling programme policy - NZTA Hamish Mackie was one of 10 experts on the Cycling Safety Panel formed following a Coroners Inquiry into 13 recent cycling fatalities. The Coroner recommended that a panel be established to investigate ways of making cycling safer in New Zealand. To read the full report and recommendations click here.
Fit for the Road Programme - Log Transport Safety Council A health and wellbeing programme specifically designed for employees in the log transport industry. Mackie Research was involved in the design, management and evaluation of this programme.
Evaluation of the High Risk Young Drivers Programme - ACC This is a five year action research project aiming to address high-risk driving behaviour in young people. Having previously evaluated the design phase of the project, Mackie Research evaluated the implementation phase, as the project progressed towards local delivery in Māngere, Auckland.
FRIENZ: On the Bicycle: charting a healthy, low carbon route to resilient cities - MBIE This project aimed to extend collaborations between Dutch and New Zealand Researchers with a focus on the future of the bicycle in urban transport systems.
Overcoming Barriers to Cycling to School - NZTA The objective of this research was to identify barriers to intermediate students cycling to school and recommend specific interventions for the schools, along with more general, national recommendations. To read full report click here
School Bus Safety - NZTA The Ashburton School Bus Trial was developed to reduce vehicle speeds near school buses that were picking up or dropping off children. Read More
Improving NZ School Travel Systems - NZTA The purpose of this research was to investigate evidence for prioritising school travel initiatives and develop an evidence based tool-kit for the design of school travel systems to supplement existing school travel initiatives. To read full report clickhere
Self Explaining Roads - Foundation for Research Science and Technology The “Self Explaining Roads” (SER) concept is about making roads safer and more user-friendly for all road users including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and residents. Read more
Evaluation of the National Cycling Programme - NZTA The national cycling programme aims to make cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice throughout New Zealand. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of this programme and it's likely outcomes.
Implementation and monitoring of variable rural school zone signs: Stage 2 - NZTA This project was the second of two projects aiming to create 'safe speeds' around rural roads. Read More