Axel Downard-Wilke
| Axel Downard-Wilke | |
|---|---|
 Downard-Wilke in 2025 | |
| Born | Axel Peter Carl Wilke 1966 (age 59–60) West Germany |
| Citizenship | New Zealander[source?] |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury |
| Occupation | Transport planner  |
| Employer |
|
Axel Peter Carl Downard-Wilke (né Wilke; born 1966)[1] is a transport planner, engineer, and Wikipedia editor from New Zealand. He was born in Germany and moved to New Zealand to finish his education at the University of Canterbury.[2][3]
Career
[change | change source]From 1997 to 2005, Downard-Wilke worked for the Christchurch City Council as a traffic engineer.[2] During this time, he was known for working on projects to make cycling safer in the city, even inventing a system to help cyclists get across wide intersections.[4][5]
He co-founded the consulting company ViaStrada, which focuses on traffic engineering and planning for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.[6] His expertise in cycling led him to be a lead author for the New Zealand Cycle Trail Design Guide[7] and an expert on a national Cycling Safety Panel.[8] He consistently advocates for urban planning that prioritizes walking, cycling, and public transport over cars.[9][10]
Wikipedia
[change | change source]In addition to his career, Downard-Wilke is an active member of the Wikipedia community. He is one of the administrators based in New Zealand and has created around 1,800 articles since 2009.[11][12]
In 2020, he successfully led a campaign to change the policy on Wikipedia to ensure that Māori place names are correctly written with macrons (the long marks above vowels).[13] He is also a member of the management committee for Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand.[14]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Plöger, Oliver (25 February 2011). "Das Erdbeben überlebt". Neue Westfälische (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- 1 2 Evans, Julia (6 June 2019). "The Axel that keeps Chch moving". The Star. pp. 16, 18, 21. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ↑ "Graduate search". University of Canterbury. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ↑ Crean, Mike (11 May 2000). "Wide Chch avenues test city cyclists". The Press. ProQuest 314299563.
- ↑ Wilke, Axel (November 2001). "Cyclists at Wide Signalised Intersections: All-Red Time Extension with Single Loop" (PDF). ViaStrada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ↑ "Company history | ViaStrada". viastrada.nz. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ↑ Boulter 2020, p. 44.
- ↑ "Cycling Safety Panel". Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ↑ Wilke, Axel (July 1999). "How will you get to work tomorrow?". Transportant. 28 (6). NZ Chartered Institute of Transport: 4.
- ↑ Crean, Mike (23 June 1999). "Buses, cycles urged for city transport". The Press. ProQuest 314272662.
- ↑ Deguara, Brittney (3 Feb 2020). "The Kiwis behind Wikipedia". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ↑ Richards, Jo (1 February 2024). "Bay hosting Wikipedia edit-a-thon". Golden Bay Weekly. p. 9. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024 – via issuu.com.
- ↑ "Battle of the macrons: Wikipedia debate ends". The New Zealand Herald. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 Mar 2024.
- ↑ "Structure and Governance". Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.