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.