New website for NTCA

The new NTCA website is being hosted on the CAN site:

http://can.org.nz/northtaranaki

We will keep this blogspot site open for sometime until the content is migrated across to the new website.

NTCA local group meeting was on 5th Nov.

The NTCA committee held its November meeting on the 5th. Patrick Morgan, the CAN Project Manager came along as well as Axel Wilke, the Co-Chairperson of the CAN executive team and Andrew Macbeth from Spokes Canterbury.

Axel and Andrew were in town to attend the Transportation Conference and to present the "Fundamentals of Planning and Design for Cycling" course.

Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 5.30 pm at the P&P conference room, Level 5, Atkinson Building, Devon St West.

Cheers
NTCA Committee

Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade Ride on 28th Sept

NPDC's Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade document is comprehensive. To help look at the content, I went for a ride on Sunday 28th Sept to look at what is proposed for Wallace Place, Tukapa Street, Frankley Road, Carrington Street and Hori Street.

Wallace Place:

• From Morley St to Tukapa St: Ranked #29th. The improvements recommended are; Mark green cycle lanes on insides of the bends.

The green cycle lane marking should be as per the proposed layouts for the green cycle lane trial which has green lanes on both sides of Wallace Place through this section.

Tukapa Street:

• From Wallace Place to Julian Street: Ranked 30th. The improvements recommended are; Green cycle lane marking through the Westown shopping centre and the David St, Clawton St, Borrell Av. and Waimea St intersections.

The green cycle lane marking should be as per the proposed layouts for the green cycle lane trial which has green lanes on both sides. The Borrell Av. intersection probably not needed for the green paint.

The cycle lanes leading to Francis Douglas Memorial College end at Julian Street. These need to be extended up to FDMC, may need parking restrictions, bus stop set backs and narrower footpaths and a green cycle lane across the intersection with Omata Road on the west side of Tukapa St.

I then went and had a cup of tea with a friend in Waimea St and then carried on via some off-road tracks to Frankley Road.

Frankley Road:

• From Clawton Street to the Dawson Street roundabout: Ranked 24th. The improvements recommended are; Parking prohibitions on both sides for 280m south from roundabout then on one side south to Clawton St.

Cycle lane signs are needed on both sides and cycle lane markings are needed through Maratahu St, Glen Park Av. and Clawton St intersections. Signs back from the roundabout are required to warn vehicles to allow for cyclists on the roundabout.

I then went around the roundabout and headed down and up Mill Road to get to Carrington St. I then rode south towards the Vogeltown shops then turned left into and headed down Hori St to the roundabout at the intersection on Brooklands Road.

Hori Street:

• From Brooklands Road to Carrington Street; Ranked 34th. The improvements recommended are; 50m of cycle lane extension at the western end to take the cycle lanes through to Carrington St.

The large roudabout at Brooklands road looks difficult for cyclists, it should comply with the latest best practice re lane markings.

Carrington Street:

• From Huatoki Street to Holsworthy Road; Ranked 32nd. The improvements recommended are; Nothing.

Cycle lane markings are needed through the Mill Road intersection and through the Hori Street intersection to the end of the section.

• From Holsworthy Road to Courtenay Street; Ranked 20th. The improvements recommended are; Setting back kerbs on one side from Mill Rd to Shortland St, Parking prohibitions both sides from Shortland St to Victoria Rd, Set back kerbs both sides from Victoria St to Courtenay St, Green cycle lane markings across the Victoria adn Pendarves St intersections.

Cycle lane is very narrow at the shops on the west side by Mill Road. A planter box outside one of the shops takes cycle lane space. The cycle lane on the east side is narrow at the south end of this section. The parking prohibition both sides from Shortland St to Victoria Road is probably too severe. Need some set back parking bays from Mill Road to around #88 then prohibit parking down to Flight Place. From Flight Place to Victoria Rd, need some parking south of the narrow road section and the P120 zone for the Rest Home.

Well that was all the rides done during September and most of the sections reviewed.

Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade Sunday Ride on 21st Sept

NPDC's Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade document is comprehensive. To help look at the content, 2 of us went for a ride on Sunday 21st Sept to look at what is proposed for Eliot Street, Coronation Avenue and Mangorei Road. We also looked at the the various works on Mangorei Road subsequent to the audit undertaken last year by one of our members.

Eliot Street:

• From Leach St to Rogan St: Ranked #23rd. The improvements recommended are; Set back the kerb on the west side south of Leach St; Set back the kerb from Pendarves St to Cameron St; Recess the bus stop on the east side between Cameron St and Rogan St; Mark cycle lanes green at major conflict points; Mark cycle lanes south of Leach St.

There appears to be a bus stop north of Pendarves St on the east side that needs to be set back too if used. Cycle lanes need to be continuous from Leach St through to those on the hill leading up to Boys High.

Coronation Avenue:

• From Rogan St to Maranui St: Ranked #17th. The improvements recommended are; Remove parking on the western side of Coronation Av; Construct two recessed bus bays; Reconfigure pavement marking.

Parking should be restricted at all time on the western side. Cycle lanes need to be marked on both sides. Looks like there should be 3 bus bays set back, not two.

• From Maranui St to Welbourne Terrace: Ranked #14th. The improvements recommended are; Narrow flush median over full length to 1.8 m; Narrow traffic lanes to 3.0 m; Mark 1.8 m cycle lanes; Mark cycle lanes green at Cumberland St and where Coronation Avenue veers to right off SH3.

Off-road cycle path just past Welbourne Terrace not well sign posted. How those going into town who come off this path get across Coronation Avenue to the cycle lane on the west side is not clear. How do the school children get across to go to Welbourne and to Highlands Intermediate? Install a new pedestrian crossing on the south side of the Coronation Avenue/SH3intersection? The pinch point as cyclists coming into town on SH3 caused by the southern extent of kerbing needs to be sorted with NZTA.

We then headed back down Coronation Avenue and then went down Cumberland Steet to get to Mangorei Road:

Once on Mangorei Road we headed south for a way. We were looking at the initial cycle audit carried out in March 2007 and the works that have happened since to see what has gone in and what has gone. Apex reviewed the audit and the current NPDC work plans and submitted their findings in a letter to the NPDC late November 2007. A copy of their letter was taken with us on the ride.

• The issues raised for Mangorei Rd south of Cumberland St were to do with glass in the cycle lanes, shared parking/cycle lane and fragmentation of the cycle lanes.

This section of Mangorei Rd didn't make it into the top 38 sections for the first stage of the Cycle Network Upgrade. The initial response from NPDC in May 2007 indicated that these cycle lane issues would be considered as part of the network upgrade. Seeing this stretch of Mangorei Rd didn't score high enough to make the cut off mark of an overall weighted score of 70%, these issues will remain. The uneven surfacing issue raised would be covered in the next scheduled re-seal, likely within the next 5 years.

• From Cumberland St to Kauri St; The issues raised were; Protruding bus stop by the Shell garage on west side; Cycle lane disappears on west side north of the Stumble Inn; Cycle lane narrows on east side near the Shell garage.

This section of Mangorei Rd didn't make it past the cut off point for the first stage of the Cycle Network Upgrade either. However, part of the review of our audit, certain work was indicated that it would be done.

The bus stop has gone. Parking prohibition exists on the east side; A cycle lane from Cumberland St to the Stumble Inn was there, 1.8m if measured from inside white line to face of kerb )1.55 m of rideable lane; 3.0 m traffic lanes put in with 3.1 m for parked vehicles and cycles north of the Stumble Inn. This was to be reveiwed after installation to see if could further mark this zone with 2.0 m car parking and 1.1 m cycle lanes. Not sure if this review has been undertaken, additional marking not in as yet but were seen to be needed during our ride.

Mangorei Road:

• From Kauri St to Devon Street East: Ranked #12th. The improvements recommended are; Recessed parking bays near Awanui St and Turehu St; Re-align the right turn bay into Awanui St; Re-configure the road markings from Warangi St to south of Turehu St; Green cycle lane markings at Devon St East, Northgate, Rimu St and Awanui St.

The audit highlighted issues with the junctions at Northgate, Rimu St, Awanui St, Union St and Kauri St within this section of the road network. Also with the section of road from Te Mete Park to Awanui St on the west side where the cycle lane narrows and vehicles cut the corner. Also on the east side from #129 south the cycle lane and car parking share space, so if vehicle is parked, there is no cycle lane.

Better cycle lane markings are thus also needed at both the Union St and Kauri St intersections on top of what is proposed in the upgrade. This should happen with the next stage of the Mangorei Road Rehabilitation Project in the summer of 2008/2009 = need to confirm that this is happening with the NPDC roading team.

The Northgate intersection is on a State Highway so is the responsibility of the NZ Transport Agency. The proposed changes for this have been reviewed by NTCA and the designers have gone back to the drawing board. In the meantime, the Upgrade Report assumes that cyclists will either take the lane and cross within the existing traffic lanes or dismount and cross using the pedestrian signals.

The current plan appears to give cyclists the following:

• 1.8 m cycle lanes both sides from Devon St East to Northgate.
• Complex intersection at Northgate.
• 1.5 m cycle lane on east side and 0.95 m lane on west side from outside #43 Mangorei Rd to pedestrian crossing outside Girls High.
• 1.2 m cycle lane on east side and 1.5 m lane on west side from pedestrian crossing outside Girls High to outside #63 Mangorei Rd.
• 1.4 m cycle lane on east side and 1.5 m lane on west side from #63 Mangorei Rd to Warangi St.
• 1.6 m cycle lanes both sides from Warangi St to Awanui St.
• 1.5 m cycle lanes both sides through the Awanui St intersection.
• 1.7 m cycle lanes both sides from Awanui St to Kauri St.
• 1.1 m cycle lanes both sides from Kauri St to the Merrilands Shopping Centre.
• 1.6 m cycle lanes both sides from the Merrilands Shopping Centre to Turakina St.
• Intermittent cycle lanes both sides south of Turakina St of aproximately 1.1 m width.

Is this good enough for Mangorei Rd?

Depends on what NZTA come up with for the intersection with Northgate and the cycle lanes immediately south of the interesection. Also the 0.95 m and 1.1 m lanes are too narrow.

Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade Sunday Ride on 14th Sept

NPDC's Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade document is comprehensive. To help look at the content, 3 of us went for a ride on Sunday 14th Sept to look at what is proposed for St Aubyn St and Devon Street West.

Courtenay Street:

• From Eliot St to Hobson St: Ranked #25th. The improvements recommended are; Mark cycles 50 m each side at Hobson St end; Mark cycle lanes green at high use entrances and at the start and finish of the section.

General agreement was reached that the route for the cycle lanes as Courtenay St transitions into Hobson St and Northgate was very confusing. Layout for these need to be seen before detailed comments could be made but agree with the intent of the improvements.

Northgate:

• From Courtenay St to Watson St: Ranked #26th. The improvements recommended are; Mark green cycle lanes at conflict areas of Courtenay St and Watson St.

Again it was unclear what was to be marked as cycle lanes and what would also be be green cycle lanes. Layout for these need to be seen before detailed comments could be made so we couldn't comment. What young cyclists and those not confident at crossing lanes of traffic could do here didnt seem to be addressed.

One option could be for east bound cyclists is to carry on down Hobson St to meet Lemon St and then head east to go on the off road cycle path on the south side of Northgate, crossing Mangorei Rd at the lights and carrying on up to Waiwaka Terrace. This would be a two stage process of crossing traffic lanes, one for those on Hobson St wanting to head west on Leach St and then across SH3 for those heading west from Northgate onto Leach St. Not ideal.

• From Watson St to Waiwaka Terrace: Ranked #3rd highest requiring upgrading. The improvements recommended are; Mark cycle lane around Watson St/Lemon St to encourage west heading cyclists to go down Lemon St; Improve the kerb crossing at this bend; Ban parking on north side east of Mangorei Rd; Narrow solid median east of parking ban; Mark green cycle lanes at each end and Girls High entry to off-road section of cycle path.

Needs to tie in with the suggested changes to the Mangorei Rd/Northgate intersection being discussed with NZTA in Wanganui. Not all cyclists using this section of the road are willing to go on the off-road path.

• From Waiwaka Terrace to Ngaio Street: Ranked #13th. The improvements recommended are; Narrow solid median full length of section; Mark cycle lanes full length.

Road width for cycle lane is definitely needed. Not clear what was intended for east bound cyclists at the end of the off-road path at Waiwaka Terrace. We headed down Waiwaka Tce, turned left into Paynters Av, then turned right and went down the slip road back onto SH3 heading east. Alternatively one could go along Paynters Av a bit more then go down the off-road path that goes behind St John Bosco School and brings one down into a car park at the junction of Devon St East, Northgate and Devon Road.

• From Ngaio Street to Devon Street East: Ranked #7th. The improvements recomended are; Realign approach lanes to traffic signals at Devon St East; Mark green cycle lanes; Straight ahead cyclists to cross over left turning lane at signals.

Cycle lanes OK from Ngaio St through. Improvements needed as one comes up to the lights at the intersection with Devon St East. The cycle lane markings etc at this point need to be integrated with the changes needed to allow cyclists to move onto the footpaths on either side of the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge. This work is waiting on NZTA getting a design they can live with plus find the funds for the work to put removable barriers between the insides of the footpaths either side and the roadway.

Devon Road:

• From the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge to Atiawa Street: Ranked #6th. The improvements will be part of the the NZTA work as per above for the conversion of the two footpaths on the bridge to shared pathways.

No problems with this apart from the time it is taking NZTA to come up with the design, money and installation.

• From Atiawa Street to Katere Road: Ranked 22nd. The improvements recommended are set back the kerb on the south side through to Bridle Street; Narrow the flush median from Bridle Street to Smart Road; Set back the kerb on both sides from Smart Road to Katere Road; Mark green cylce lanes at Smart Road and at Katere Road.

General agreement that solution was OK and required.

• From Katere Road to Vickers Road: Ranked 18th. The improvements recommended are set back the kerb on one south side; Narrow the solid median; Mark cylce lanes throughout.

General agreement that solution was OK and required as no cycle lanes exist at present. Would need for those heading east to have signage telling them how to get onto the off-road cycle path going up the Mangaone Hill just past Vickers Road that would be coming up.

• From Vickers Road to the bottom of the Mangaone Hill: Ranked 10th. The improvements are part of the work being undertaken presently for the start of the Bell Block By-pass; Cycle lanes up both sides plus an off-road cycle path on the north side that will head into Bell Block along the existing road to Bell Block that will become an access road to the golf club once the by-pass is opened.

General agreement that solution was OK and required. After that, we headed back towards Fitzroy and went down Devon Street East.

Devon Street East:

• From Northgate to Strandon Place: Ranked #15th. The improvements recommended are; Reduce width of traffic lanes to 3.0 m whereever this no median strip, mark cycle lanes on west approach to traffic signals at main Fitzroy junction; Green cycle lane markings at these lights.

Not clear from report whether cycle lanes were to be installed for the section on the east of the traffic lights, these are definitely needed, especially for those heading west as vehicles veering left can cut the corner and squeeze cyclists into the gutter. 1.8 m cycle lanes required full length and green marking needed at the lights.

• From Strandon Place to Mangorei Road: Ranked #16th. The improvements recommended are; Reduce width of traffic lanes to 3.0 m; Reduce width of flush median; Mark cycle lanes; Green cycle lane markings at high conflict areas.

General agreement that solution was OK and required.

• From Mangorei Road to Eliot Street: Ranked #9th. The improvements recommended are; Extend cycle lanes by 50 m to Eliot Street lights; Green cycle lane markings on approaches to traffic lights with stopping boxes.

No mention made of Hobson Street lights and what would be proposed there. Same needed here as well what is proposed for Eliot Street lights. Otherwise OK. We then headed over to Molesworth Street to have a look at Section No. 40.

Molesworth Street:

• From Eliot Street to Liardet Street: Ranked #31st. The improvements recommended are; Extend cycle lanes by 60 m to Liardet Street lights; Remove the solid splitter island and replace the traffic signal pole in the middle of the road with an overhead mast arm; Green cycle lane markings at major conflict points.

This section leads into the first piece of road looked at the previous week that was ranked #1 in the need for improvement. The road is generally wider in this section and the are cycle lanes except at the Liardet St lights which is where the road does get narrower. So the improvements at the lights look OK. Need sign posting and a method for getting access onto the Coastal Foreshore pathway.

Update on NPDC's sustainable transport, cycling and walking initiatives

The NPDC gave an update on sustainable transport, cycling and walking initiatives for the New Plymouth district.

This was at the council chambers, Tuesday 30th September.

They covered:

• Progress on the cycle strategy and future plans.
• Introduced Nathaniel Benefield and his role as the Sustainable Transport Co-ordinator.
• The council's work place travel plan, electric bikes, ride sharing etc.
• The new Govt Dept, NZTA and how this may affect current and future projects.
• Walking Strategy progress.
• Walking Advocacy.
• Future plans for World Car Free Day and Bike Wise Week 2009.

Critical Mass bike rides to start!

When:
The last Friday of every month at 5.15 pm. With the weather now better, the first one is this month on 26th September.

So NTCA invites you all, bring along your friends and family and your bikes.

Where to meet at start:
In front of the Puke Ariki Library in Brougham Street.

What is a Critical Mass ride?
See http://criticalmass.org.nz/ or http://www.critical-mass.info/ for detailed information, but borrowing heavily from the NZ Critical Mass site:

Critical Mass is a spontaneous, leaderless bicycle ride that occurs on the last Friday of every month in almost every major city in the world. It is regarded by many participants as celebrations of self-powered transportation as opposed to a protest or organised demonstration.

What is meant to happen?
The purpose of critical Mass is not formalised beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and travelling en masse through the city streets. So those who turn up on the day will decide on where the ride will go and for how long etc.

What to expect and how to react:
Critical Mass is a celebration of cycling in order to assert our right to the road and not about denying others their right to use it.

You may slow down or even block the traffic by joining a Critical Mass ride, though cyclists are traffic themselves. To achieve mutual consideration on the road it is important to address motorists with respect and creativity:

• Leave at least one lane open for cars when you are not riding on a one lane road.
• Stay calm and friendly, especially towards motorists that get pissed off about the delay. Apologies, smiles will win more than arguments and power plays.
• Critical Mass is a coincidence with no leader or organisation but it means communication and cooperation.
• You are fully responsible for the things you do and their consequences, although poorly thought out moves could affect the whole group and perception by the public.

History:
Critical Mass emerged in September 1992 in San Francisco when 48 people gathered for the so called "Commute Clot". The ride increased in size every month and by the time 1993 came about, around 500 cyclists joined the event in San Francisco. Furthermore, the idea spread between cities, countries and continents. The cycling minority became visible to the rest of society.

The name "critical mass" was inspired by Ted White's documentary "Return of the Scorcher" dealing with bike culture overseas. In this film the human powered vehicle designer George Bliss describes a typical scene in China: at intersections without signals bicyclists slowly amass, until a sufficient "critical mass" accumulates to cause cross traffic to yield which gives them power to move. This term was applied by participants after the first ride in San Francisco.

NPDC Monitoring Committee meeting this coming Tuesday

The Carrington Street parking prohibition issue is back up before the Monitoring Committee this coming Tuesday, 23rd September at 4.30 pm.

The compromise being put forward by the Roading Assets team is that two 120 min car parks are allowed outside No. 44 Carrington Street. This is where the road is at its widest in the section that the full council agreed back in August to have full parking restrictions imposed.

Subsequent publicity by the rest home owners have made the Roading Assets team re-look at what can be provided in on-street parking plus allow cycle lanes down this narrow stretch of road.

Two options are recommended to be considered in the preparation of the 2009/2019 Long-Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) for work in the future:

• Construction of 3 inset parallel parking bays south of the rest home.


• Widening of Carrington St for 170 m on the east side opposite the rest home so that kerbside parking and cycle lanes can be provided.

Both of which will be costly to construct.

Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade Sunday Ride on 7th Sept

NPDC's Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade document is comprehensive. To help look at the content, 9 of us went for a ride on Sunday 7th Sept to look at what is proposed for St Aubyn St and Devon Street West.

St Aubyn Street:

• From Liardet St to Egmont St: Ranked #1 as the highest priority section of NP's roads for improvement for cyclists which is why we started at Puke Ariki. The improvements recommended are; Set back the kerbs on both sides by 800 mm by the Egmont St lights; Reduce the footpath width by 800 mm on the south side from the Huatoki Stream to Liardet St; Remove the solid median in the middle of the road; Mark 3.0 m traffic lanes; Mark a flush median; Mark cycle lane green at Egmont St lights and across the recessed loading zone outside Centre City.

General agreement was reached with the proposal, did wonder about whether heading east a shared pathway could be used on a rather unused footpath.

• Egmont St to Lawry St in Moturoa: Ranked 21st. The improvements recommended are: Extend the cycle lanes at both Egmont St and Dawson Streets; Re-align the flush median and edge lines at the Bonithon Av bend.

Queried having green cycle lanes east of Egmont St and not on the west side. Road width at Dawson St lights narrow so difficult to see how cycle lanes can be incorporated with the left turning lane to head south on Dawson St. Agreed with the Bonithon Av changes, pedestrian crossing concrete kerb to be set back? Nothing was mentioned about the intersection with Lawry St/South Road.

We then made our way out to the city boundary by going up South Road and then along Devon Street West out to Barrett Road. We then made our way back into town along Devon Street. This route was also the subject of an audit by one of NTCA's members almost exactly a year ago. We checked out whether the concerns raised in the audit re the infrastructure were still there or whether they were being addressed in the suggested improvements.

Devon Street West:

• Barrett Rd to Blagdon Road: Ranked 19th. The improvements recommended are: Parking prohibitions both sides in some places and one side in others; Set back kerb lines; Remove a section of flush median at Spotswood Primary; Mark cycle lanes and re-configure existing markings with green paint in high conflict zones.

General agreement was reached with the proposal. Stop sign lines at Pioneer Rd may protrude into cycle lane. Pedestrian crossing kerbing narrows the road width at Spotswood College. Cycle lane marked green at the South Road intersection needed.

• Blagdon Road to Stuart Place: Ranked 27th. The improvements recommended are: Narrow the flush median outside the shops; Narrow traffic lanes to 3.0 m; Mark 1.6 m cycle lanes with green paint.

General agreement was reached with the proposal. Very dicey section of road for cyclists, safety ranking looks too low. Is bus stop still used? Bus stop markings may protrude into cycle lane.

• Stuart Place to Belt Road: Ranked 2nd. The improvements recommended are: Parking prohibitions both sides and one side; Set back kerb lines; Recessed parking bays; 3.0 m traffic lanes; 1.8 m cycle lanes where cars park and 2.1 m cycle lanes where no parking; Drifting centre line markings where parking prohibitions occur on one side of the road; Cycle lanes marked green at Lawry St and Lorna St.

General agreement was reached with the proposal. East of Stuart Pl room for cycle lane looks tight. Is parking to be prohibited down the hill to Lawry St? Cars do park there and take the space that would be for a cycle lane. Bayly Rd and Doone St intersection stop sign lines need to be moved back.

Cycle lanes need to be marked through Lawry St/Seaview Rd intersection.

Dangerous zone outside Devon Intermediate, so parking prohibitions and cycle lane markings needed here.

• Belt Road to Morley St: Ranked 4th. The improvements recommended are: Cycle lane markings through Belt and Cutfield Road intersections; Extend cycle lane markings into Morley St intersection; Signs to encourage cyclists to go straight ahead rather than turn right to go south on Morley St.

Was felt more should be done at the Belt Road intersection as the stop sign lane markings are too far into Devon St. This is caused by cars parking on the seaward side of Devon St restricting visibility for vehicles trying to cross Devon St at this intersection. So need parking prohibition west of Belt Rd on north side. Otherwise would need a shared pathway from Doone St to Belt Road?

Cycle lane symbols faded along route and need to be upgraded.

Cutfield Rd intersection markings confusing and not consistent with elsewhere on this road.

Suggestion for encouraging cyclists to go straight ahead was not favoured by some as many head further south on Morley St and don't go down the one way system heading east. Good idea for those who do go down Powderham St.

Bike boxes needed at the Morley St/Devon St lights similar to that proposed at the Northgate/Mangorei Rd intersection including one for cyclists heading west. Check light activation by cycles as often don't work at night.

Morley Street:

• Devon St to Vivian St: Ranked 8th. The improvements recommended are: Remove a bus stop; Parking prohibitions; Re-align the right turning bay; Cycle lanes marked green full length.

General agreement was reached with the proposal. Bike box needed at lights. Cycle lanes neede for those going straight ahead south on Morley St across the intersections with the one way streets.

Devon Street West:

• Morley St to Robe St: Not Ranked, as such no improvements were recommended.

Needs cycle lanes marked all the way through on both sides including at Dawson St intersection. Timing of lights at Dawson St need checking as often don't allow a cyclist to cross before lights go green in other direction. Confusing markings at pedestrian crossing by Atkinson Building need removing.

NPDC Cycling Strategy Implementation Team interface meetings coming up

The next meeting with the NPDC Cycle Strategy Implementation Team (CSIT) to review where their various cycling related projects will be in October.

These are held on the last Tuesday of the month at 4 pm at the NPDC. So the next one would normally be Tuesday 30th September, at the NPDC. However, in the morning on the 30th there is an update meeting on sustainable transport, cycling and walking initiatives for sustainable transport stakeholders including NTCA. This meeting is in the Council Chambers starting at 8.30 am, so feel free to come along when and if you can.

The October CSIT meeting will be in the ground floor meeting room, Meeting Room #4, go in through the foyer between the stairs and the reception desk and it is the meeting room at the back furthermost to the right.

Hope to see some of you there at either or both of these meetings.


Cheers
NTCA Committee

Cycle Advocacy podcast - Gil Peñalosa

One website/podcast worth keeping an eye on and subscribing to is the San Francisco based blog written by Jon Winston.

http:///bikescape.blogspot.com

He recently went to the Towards Car Free Cities conference held this year in Portland Oregon. There he recorded various podcasts including one that has the keynote speech for the conference given by Gil Peñalosa.

As Commissioner of Parks, Sports and Recreation, Peñalosa initiated Bogata's trailblazing ciclovias, where each Sunday ninety one km of streets are returned to the commons for non-motorized use. 1.5 million people use the ciclovias each week and now the practice is migrating to other cities around the world. You can download the mp3 of his speech and the subsequent press conference at:

http://bikescape.blogspot.com/2008/06/towards-car-free-cities-keynote-speech.html

There is also a short film made of the Ciclovias in action in Bogata that you can watch.

Here is what I got out from his speech:

His questions for those who are in local government and the community:

• What kind of cities do we want to have?
• How do we want to live?
• Do we want to retain skilled people here long term? They need a reason to stay.

Getting things done to achieve the vision:

• It is not about the money but priorities.
• Not about the technical issues - there are solutions somewhere in the world to use.

How to move from thinking to doing something:

• Leadership from those in the community
• Political will and a clarity of vision - general interest of the many must prevail over the particular
• Need doers in the public sector - we pay rates and taxes to get things done.
• Reqires community engagement
• Needs a sense of urgency

Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade document for comment next week.

NPDC have their Draft Cycle Network Infrastructure Upgrade document ready for comment and review by key stakeholders. It expected to be received by NTCA next week. It is believed to locate and outline the top 40 or so locations within the district where cycle infrastructure improvements are required and what can be done along with preliminary costs.

It is still very much a draft document, but NPDC feel it is now time for some initial comments from interested parties and concurrently NPDC will be reviewing the document internally.

They hope that our feedback along with comments from LTNZ and Transit NZ will result in a document that clearly identifies agreed priorities and treatments and will achieve maximum value for cyclists in the district.

This report has been reviewed by an independent engineering consultancy prior to this next stage of review and comment.

There are financial implications and critical timing issues for the council, for Transit NZ (as many of the priority sections are state highways) and LTNZ (or the New Zealand Transport Agency that is to replace these two govt departments).

Wellington cyclists organised a memorial ride as a mark of respect for the two riders killed in June

Cyclists gathered at Parliament on Thursday 26 June at 3:45pm. After a brief opportunity to speak, they departed Parliament at 4pm, and rode along Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road to Petone Roundabout. They paused there, then rode back to Wellington.

The ride commemorated and honoured the lives of the riders killed on 19 June.

So far in 2008, we have been involved with the following issues:

· Mangorei Road/Northgate intersection modifications.

· Modifications to the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge footpaths to enable their use as shared pathways for both pedestrians and cyclists.

· The separated cycle path up the Mangaone Hill on SH3 just past Vickers Road.

· Reviewed and submitted to NPDC on the New Plymouth District Strategic Transport Study. Speak to the Policy Committee in support of our submission.

· Proposed trial of green cycle lane markings on Tukapa Street between Sanders Avenue and the top of Morely Street.

· Coronation Avenue/SH3 southern entrance to New Plymouth pinch point just inside the 50 km zone.

· Following up on the Mangorei Road and Devon Street West audits.

· Watching brief on how NPDC are responding to the barriers to cycling to school reported by St John Bosco School's pupils.

· Meeting monthly with the NPDC Cycling Strategy Implementation team to discuss progress on implementing the cycle strategy.

· Review of proposed signalling changes to the Smart Road/Devon Road intersection.

This work has been generally a mixture of dealing with the NPDC Cycle Strategy Implementation Team, NPDC Roading Assets staff and Transit NZ in Wanganui (as some of these issues are on state highways).

What else is there?

• Support the proposed removal of 12 car parks on Lower Carrington Street that will allow a cycle lane to be installed along that section of the road.
• The Taranaki Regional Council need to be contacted to find out how they are progressing with the implementation of their Walkways and Cycleways Strategy.
• Review the NPDC's proposed cycling infrastructure upgrades that have been through a preliminary design and costing process and are currently being peer reviewed.
• Work with the NPDC Sustainable Transport Co-ordinator when they are appointed.
• Regional cycling maps or a Bike Taranaki booklet.
• Promote school and business travel plans.
• Long Term Council Community Plan update next year.
• Talk to the district's Community Boards on what can be done re cycling in their areas.

Submission into the NPDC are in, well done to all who had their say!

The Strategic Transport Study was out for public consultation and comments are all in. This has been a joint New Plymouth District Council and Transit New Zealand project to come up with a plan to manage the district’s road developments for the next 25 years and beyond.

Traffic Design Group, which developed the document, has found that with the exception of Northgate/Waiwhakaiho the city’s road network capacity is generally adequate to handle the growth in traffic flows for the next 40 years.

To improve the eastern corridor, the strategic transport study proposes a number of extra lanes and some intersection changes from Hobson St through Northgate and Devon Rd to Vickers Rd.

All of the road developments are intended to have dedicated cycle lanes and provisions for cyclists along their length in line with the council's Cycle Strategy. Is that really the case and is it the best way for cycling infrastructure money to be spent?

The next step is that the submissions are reviewed by the NPDC officers, and a report on everyone's feedback will go to the Policy Committee on Tuesday 1 July 2008.

We have a chance to speak in support of our in front of the Policy Committee on that day.

Go By Bike Day 2008

A New Plymouth first - A Go By Bike Day breakfast was organised by the NPDC Events team with food provided by BikeWise.

NTCA went along and helped with the registrations and generally mingled with friends. We had a table there to display information and signed up new members interested in getting information on local cycling issues.

170 odd came along for a breakfast of bagels and music on a fine New Plymouth morning at Puke Ariki landing. Thanks for all our supporters who came along and said hello and to those who got up early and helped set up and get it all ready for the hungry.

For 2008, we have in mind getting involved with the following:

· Have a stall at the Taranaki Sustainable Living Fair at Inglewood High School, 5th April.

· Bike safety checks at schools during the year along with the Health Promotions Unit at Taranaki Base Hospital.

· Endeavour to participate with the Road Safe Taranaki committee to have input on how future road revisions may affect cyclists.

· Develop a relationship with the Taranaki Road Safety Co-ordinator based in Hawera at the South Taranaki District Council.

· Review the NPDC’s proposed on-road cycling infrastructure packages that will go to Land Transport NZ for funding approval to implement the changes needed to comply with the NPDC Cycle Strategy.

· Participate in promoting BikeWise week and its associated activities.

· Follow up on the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge, Mangorei Rd/Northgate intersection, Mangorei and Devon Street audits, SH3 south motorway uplifting and the Mangaone Hill/Bell Block by-pass changes.

· Work in conjunction with the NPDC Sustainable Transport co-ordinator to run a 1.5m gap to cyclists advertising and signage campaign.

· Work with the CAN Digital Strategy project team to integrate our website with those developed as part of the project.

· Anything else that comes along!

NTCA Committee Report for 2007

Here is what we have been doing since the beginning of 2007:

· The Mayoral Challenge was held mid February. Members assisted with the start, marshalling along the route and at the finish plus handed out CAN/NTCA info at the finish area.

· Submitted to the Taranaki Regional Council re their Walkway and Cycleways Strategy late in February.

· The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) membership was shifted to being an Affiliated Group to take advantage of the benefits this membership brings in the way of an income and assistance from the CAN employees etc.

· A cycle audit of Mangorei Road was undertaken by one of our committee members on 18th March. This was reviewed by the committee and the final version was sent to the Community Assets Manager of the NPDC on 13th April.

· An online submission was made on the 30th April to the NPDC on the proposed budget for 2007/2008. This was aimed to promote spending on cycling safety related issues. Three members of the committee went to the public session to speak to the submission on the 29th May. The verbal submission was aimed at promoting the spending on cycling safety issues and that these shouldn’t be held up until the new cycling strategy was adopted. Questions were also raised during the discussions regarding cycling access over the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge.

· The Daily News newspaper picked up on the comments made during the public submission and asked for comments regarding these. An article on the issue of cyclist’s safety on the bridge appeared in the Daily News on Monday 4th June.

· Following a committee meeting on the 12th May, letters were sent to Transit NZ and the NPDC on 15th May regarding improving the safety for cyclists crossing the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge. The letters indicated that an improvement would be to allow the footpaths to become shared pathways with appropriate signs and transitions to the cycle lanes either side. NPDC replied on 29th May in a positive fashion along with the added idea of putting hand railing on the road side of the shared pathways. Transit NZ acknowledged the letter on 7th June and further on 16th June indicated that they had been in discussion with NZ Police re the shared pathway suggestion for the footpaths. The police’s roading manager was supportive of the idea of a shared pathway.

· NPDC Cycling Strategy. A preliminary copy of the draft Cycling Strategy was received from the NPDC on 20th May. This draft was reviewed and comments passed back on 14th June. The draft strategy was released for public comment on 25th June. A submission on the draft was given to the NPDC on 13th July.

· Following a request from one of our wider group of those interested in cycling issues, a letter was sent to Transit NZ on 25th May regarding the lifting of the motorway status on the southern exit to New Plymouth along SH3. Transit NZ responded on 6th June outlining that the process was underway but progressing slowly as this was the first time it had to do the “undoing” of a motorway.

· The public submission to the Taranaki Regional Council on their Walkway and Cycleways Strategy was undertaken Thursday, 14th June. The TRC officer’s report on our submission was generally favourable in regard to our points and many of them were incorporated into the final version.

· Received a request from NPDC in July to review the proposed changes to the cycle path up the Mangaone Hill between Waiwhakaiho Valley and the New Plymouth Golf Club. This will be part of the SH3 upgrade and the Bell Block By-pass. A group of interested cyclists met with the council in early August. Feedback was given to keep the separate cycle path up the hill.

· NTCA featured in the September/October issue of Endurance Sport magazine and in August’s issue of CAN’s Chainlinks magazine.

· As part of Kidsafe Week, one of our members and his children featured in an article in the Midweek paper re cycling families.

· One of our members has volunteered to be on the NPDC Cycle Strategy Steering Group – an over-seeing committee responsible for monitoring NPDC’s progress in implementing their cycle strategy. The committee consists of people from Venture Taranaki, Sport Taranaki, Taranaki Regional Council, NTCA, Transit NZ, Land Transport NZ and NPDC.

· A cycle audit of Devon St West was undertaken by another of our committee members on 8th September. This was reviewed by the committee and the final version was sent to the Community Assets Manager of the NPDC on 19th November. The NPDC have forwarded the audit to Transit NZ for their consideration also as most of the audit covered SH45 which is their jurisdiction.

· One of our members went to the NZ Cycling Conference and the following CAN annual advocates get together in Napier at the beginning of November.

· Letters were written to Transit NZ regarding the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge and the dangers for commuting cyclists and changes that could be made to improve the safety for cyclists at the bridge.

· Letters were written to NPDC and Transit NZ regarding the changes to the intersection of Mangorei Road and Northgate.

· Applied to CAN for a grant to fund a stall site at the 2008 Taranaki Sustainability Fair. CAN’s grant of $100 was deposited into the NTCA account mid December.

· Have met regularly with the NPDC Cycle Strategy Implementation Team in the later part of the year.

· Provided to NPDC a list of sites within New Plymouth that would benefit from coloured cycle lane markings.

· Registered an .org domain name and created a website; www.ntca.org.nz.

· Met with Robert Ibell, the chair of CAN and with Anne Gummer, the CAN project officer for the Upper North Island.

· Members of the committee attended the presentation by St John Bosco on their cycle related research findings funded by the LTNZ Community Partnership Programme, jointly administered by CAN and Living Streets Aoteoroa.

· The committee had fourteen meetings throughout the year.

· Work has been progressing on designing a logo so that standard CAN documentation can be developed.

· A bank account was opened @ the TSB Bank.