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.