Thousands of protestors broke though police lines today to cycle and walk across the Auckland Harbour bridge today.

Outnumbered police were powerless to stop the thousands getting on to the bridge, in a demonstration calling for better pedestrian and cyclist facilities. The action brought northbound traffic to a stand still for more than an hour.

One of those who defied police and cycled across the bridge was Caron Lynn. She says it was great to see so many people walking and riding across together to show it can be done safely. Ms Lynn says it is a wake up call for the New Zealand Transport Agency, which needs to rethink its decision not to allow pedestrians and cyclists on the Harbour Bridge.

But the New Zealand Transport Agency is disappointed protestors have broken their promise. NZTA regional director Wayne McDonald says organisers of the Get Across campaign did not stick to their agreement. He says they had promised not to go on the bridge during the protest when the NZTA explained it was unsafe to be there.

Mr McDonald says the large size of the crowd this morning comes as no surprise. He says the 30-year plan for the bridge provides for walking and cycling over it, but in the short-term nothing can be done.