A controversial $2 billion Auckland Transport cycling scheme has been slammed by the hosts of AM, with one saying it's "vindictive".
The plan would make bike training compulsory in schools, scrap car parking for teachers, abolish tax deductions for company cars and introduce public subsidies for people to buy bikes.
The cycling plan has so far been allocated $306m but planners are seeking political support for a further $1.7b.
AM host Melissa Chan-Green slammed the proposal and questioned how some kids in New Zealand could even afford a bike.
"Bike training in schools, there are so many kids around the country that can't even afford a bike, let alone making them ride a bike at school," Chan-Green said.
Fellow AM host Ryan Bridge said Auckland Transport is "out of control" and the plan would push teachers away.
"I guess that's why they want to subsidise the purchase of bikes and why they need $1.7b. That is an incredible sum of money, particularly at the moment," Bridge said.
"I just think this is madness and why would you go and punish teachers. Teachers who we struggle to retain in Auckland as it is. You are going to take car parks away. Why would you do that? That just sounds vindictive."
AM newsreader Bernadine Oliver-Kerby said the idea is "ridiculous".
"Honestly, a bunch of clowns, it is just ridiculous, next-level ridiculous," she said.
The cycling plan is set out in the Auckland Cycling and Micromobility Programme Business Case and will be considered by the council's planning committee on Thursday.
The latest scheme comes after the Government canned plans for a standalone cycling and walking bridge due to a lack of public support.
"Do you know what else they did with that, they bought houses to build that cycleway and these homeowners who have lived in these houses their entire life and they still don't know if they can get them back," Bridge said.
"In the meantime, you have this little North Korea in Auckland Transport, who think they can run roughshod over every due process that we have ever known in a democracy."
