It's been a really interesting few days as negative feedback about the yet-to-be-finished Island Bay cycleway on Facebook culminated in this front page story in today's Dominion Post. The reality of the cycleway actually being implemented seems to have inspired some long-standing critics to have another go and also brought a lot of new critics out of the woodwork.

Before we go any further let's be absolutely clear about one thing - people are entitled to their opinions and The Dominion Post is right, there are a lot of confused and angry people in Island Bay at the moment. But I've also had a lot of conversations over the last few days with people who are not confused or angry (at least not about the cycleway) and who have had some interesting observations to make about what's going on here. So here's a slightly random crowd-sourced list of thoughts on the current situation. Some of these are my own, some have come from conversations and some from comments on social media.

Opening the cycleway as a work-in-progress definitely has pros and cons. The council were originally going to paint the new parking bays in one go right at the end of the project but then changed their minds. Their thinking was that it would be easier, and less disruptive, to paint the bays a section at a time rather than have to clear all cars off The Parade for two days at the project's end. The other reason was that it would be a kind of "soft launch" and give people a chance to get used to how the new cycleway would work before it officially opens. That's all fair and reasonable but the downside has been that the cycleway has been unofficially opened as a work-in-progress and there's no doubt that has negatively affected many people's perceptions of it.

There are some very legitimate, but relatively minor, concerns about things like the mobility parking outside the medical centre and the visibility backing out of some driveways. I agree that the mobility parks are a bit of a stuff up. The paint job suggests that the driver needs to get out straight into traffic and if you've got mobility issues that's obviously a problem. The council clarified that users can actually park anywhere in that zone that they like, so they can leave themselves more space on the right if needed. The council should re-do the paint job to make that clear however. I don't think it would be a big problem for people on bikes if cars actually parked pretty much right up against the cycleway as long as passengers are careful getting out.

This isn't just some minor suburban stoush over parking. The Island Bay cycleway is part of a $54m network to be rolled out in Wellington over the next 10 years with significant funding coming from central government. Attitudes to cycling are rapidly changing at the highest levels. Earlier this year while announcing a $333m package of urban cycleways in cities across New Zealand the Chief Executive of NZTA said "Put simply, cycling is good for our cities, it’s good for the environment and it’s good for our health." More recently, while announcing that NZTA now has authority status under the Resource Management Act to apply to local authorities to set aside land specifically for cycleways Environment Minister Nick Smith said "cycleways, just like motorways, railways or transmissions lines and telecommunications cables are critical modern infrastructure in the 21st century.”

​One of the major themes in the feedback is that The Parade is now "too narrow" for cars and "dangerous". There's no doubt that The Parade is now narrower for moving cars than it was but the lanes are still a completely standard 3.0m wide. That's consistent with the vast majority of roads around Wellington. In fact, compared to a lot of Wellington roads it's generous. You can't even drive to Island Bay without using roads that are at least as narrow and in some cases narrower. Also, the lanes for cars were actually always this width. What's now missing is the "bike lane" to the left and the median strip to the right. There seems to be a tacit admission in complaints about the "narrowing" of the lanes that drivers have always considered these spaces to be theirs to enjoy as they please. That's an interesting point of view and one that actually feeds into the justification for a separated cycleway. At the end of the day the new car lanes on The Parade are not narrow at all, they are just different and people just need time to adjust to that.

Here's a novel idea. If The Parade's new layout really is too narrow then maybe it's parked cars that are the problem? After all, roads are for mobility right? Only a small amount of on-street parking was removed from The Parade to make way for the cycleway (around 10%) so maybe that needs to be revisited. Removing parking from one side of the road would create a lot more space. Just about every residential property on The Parade already has off-street parking and on the western side the residents also have a 3.0m strip of road reserve between their boundaries and the pavement which many of them use for parking. It's fair to ask just how much parking a house actually needs and the extent to which rate-payers should subsidise that with the free storage of private property on public land, especially when that land is an important arterial transport route. The solution to the perceived narrowness of The Parade could be in the hands of the residents themselves.

It's already evident that the new traffic calming measures on The Parade are having a positive impact. The perceived narrowness of the road contributes to that and forces people to drive at a sensible speed. There's been claims that two buses can't pass each other but I haven't witnessed that and I suspect that's more down to the drivers themselves getting used to the new layout. Buses are certainly forced to slow down a bit, but that's actually a good thing (not that most of our bus drivers aren't already great). There's more traffic calming to come too with the addition of four new pedestrian crossings.

A lot of people are also concerned that the new bike lanes themselves are dangerous. The main concern seems to be either a person on a bike getting "doored" or a passenger getting out of a car and getting hit by a someone on a bike. I wonder how many of the people expressing these concerns have already tried riding the new lanes? They are great. You immediately feel safer and more protected than out on the road. I would never have let my 7 and 9 year old boys ride along The Parade next to moving cars, trucks and buses before but I will happily let them ride these new lanes. It's really nice to hear how concerned some opponents are about my kids health though (we have an obesity epidemic in this country by the way. You'd be doing more good picketing shops selling fizzy drinks).

​The lanes are wide enough to completely avoid getting "doored" but even if it did somehow happen I would rather it was on the kerbside than on the road. I also don't believe that passengers are in any danger at all. Most people on bikes won't be going that fast and a little courtesy and common-sense should avoid any problems. If someone on a bike is being a dick they will get sorted out, probably via shaming by their fellow cyclists.

Another theme in the feedback has been to highlight the lack of cycling related accidents on The Parade before now. This completely misses the point of urban cycleways which is primarily to get more people riding bikes than currently do. Making people who already ride bikes safer is great of course but that's only a secondary aim. This is all explained in the Wellington Cycling Master Plan & Framework . If you're really keen check out the Near Miss Project. Researchers at The University of Westminster found that it's actually the far more frequent 'near miss' that puts people of cycling, rather than actual accidents. Creating physical separation between bikes and moving traffic is a crucial part of altering people's perceptions of how safe cycling is and enabling more uptake, which in turn unlocks the full range of health, environmental and social benefits. When you only have 5% mode share for cycling of course accident stats are low. The vast majority of people are not even prepared to take the risk.

A few other tired old myths also reared their heads this week such as "cyclists don't pay for the roads". It's not true, as explained in this article.

Something else that isn't true is the rumour that the reason the cycleway now stops at Dee Street is because the council has "blown the budget". This is crap. The reason it now stops at Dee Street is because of the retention of the Dee Street roundabout, which wasn't originally the plan but was a recommendation of the Island Bay Cycleway Working Party. Retaining the roundabout means that people on bikes would have to merge back into traffic approaching the roundabout then go back onto the cycleway after the roundabout and then merge back into traffic about 50m down the road. The council consulted both island Bay Cycle Way and Cycle Aware Wellington on this and everybody agreed that finishing Stage 1 of the cycleway at Dee Street made more sense because one merge is better than two. Simple. Kids travelling on bikes to Wakefield Park will probably need to dismount and cross Dee Street on foot just like they always have. A minor inconvenience but much safer.

So what should the council do now? They should definitely listen to individual residents with specific concerns and see if they can resolve them. They should also roll out some more education and communications to coincide with the official opening and make sure everybody is clear on the best etiquette for using the cycleway and interacting with it on foot or in a car. Most importantly, however, they need to keep going, not just in Island Bay but across Wellington. They need to finish the Island Bay Cycleway to the highest standard possible and then use all these lessons elsewhere. They need to recognise that there will always be backlash against decent cycling infrastructure and if you don't get backlash then your infrastructure probably isn't good enough. If they back down now on any element of the cycleway then the Wellington Cycling Master Plan & Framework becomes unimplementable. Not only will they not be following their own policy they will enable every NIMBY in Wellington and create a precedent that if you just make enough noise you can overturn years of policy development, due process and decisions made by democratically elected representatives. They will also create a major point of friction with central government and put Wellington even further behind Auckland and Christchurch than we already are in implementing an important component of a becoming a modern, smart, liveable city.

That's it from Island Bay Cycle Way for the year, apart from maybe the odd retweet. We'll see you all again in the New Year and look forward to watching the cycleway slowly settle into its surroundings. This cycleway under the beautiful pohutukawa has the potential to be a real taonga for our suburb.

Happy holidays everyone.

Here's an update from the council on the work happening along The Parade this week. The project is still a work in progress, and getting used to any roading change takes time, so whether you are driving, riding or walking please take care and look out for each other. A little bit of courtesy and common-sense goes a long way! If you have any issues, questions or suggestions about how things could be tweaked please email the council at [email protected]

New road markings

The first of the new road markings went in last week between Dee Street and the shopping centre. This week we’ll be marking the new parking spaces and kerbside cycle lane between Medway Street and the Island Bay Bowling Club.

The work involves removing and resealing a 2-metre wide strip adjacent to the kerb to provide a better surface for riding on and putting in the new white lines.

Mersey Street to the bowling club

Work is already under way in this area as we endeavour to get as much of the cycleway in place before Christmas.

Weather permitting, the preparation, sealing and road marking will happen on the west side (even numbers or northbound side) of this block during the day and overnight on Tuesday 15 December. Work on the east side (odd numbers or southbound side) will happen on Wednesday 16 December.

The sealing and road marking work is weather dependent so will need to be delayed if it is wet.

Medway Street to Mersey Street

We’ll be sealing the edge of the road on the east (southbound) side between Medway and Mersey streets on Friday 18 December, weather permitting. The other side doesn’t need to be resealed.

The line markings will be painted overnight on Sunday 20 December if the weather is okay. Vehicles will need to be moved from both sides of the street.

Take extra care parking and riding

The parking spaces will be out from the kerb and clearly marked. The cycle lane will be adjacent to the footpath.

Getting used to any roading change takes time, so if you park on the street, please take extra care parking in the repositioned bays, and getting in and out of your car.

If you’re on a bike and starting to use the newly marked sections of lane, watch for pedestrians and people parking and turning in and out of driveways.

Tamar Street intersection

We’re installing a new pedestrian crossing at this intersection and have completed all the footpath work.

We expect the new pedestrian crossing will be painted and operational by Christmas.

Mersey Street intersection

All the work outside the diary is complete along with most of the work on the footpath near the Empire Cinema. New concrete bike paths have been constructed on this side in both locations to provide a safe way to ride past the new and existing pedestrian crossings and the relocated bus stop.

The bus shelter is finished, the real-time information sign has been reinstalled and the bus stop is now in use in its new location.  

Opposite the cinema, the new kerbline will be poured this week. Just south of the Mersey Street intersection on this side, we are constructing a bike path to bypass the school crossing and bus stop. All going well, the path and the school crossing will be finished by Christmas.

The new zebra crossing by the cinema will be finished in January.

Dee Street intersection

Work at this intersection is continuing. We are putting in a zebra crossing slightly south of the existing crossing point and installing a bike path around it and the bus stop.

The new kerbline went in last week and this week we’ll be putting in the boxing for the new path. Most of the work in this area is on the eastern side and should be finished before Christmas.

Reef Street intersection

New bike ramps are being installed here this week.

Christmas/New Year break

The construction team will be taking a break over the Christmas/New Year period. They will finish on 23 December and be back on 5 January.

The first section of the cycleway - on the western side of The Parade between Avon and Tamar Streets - was open and in use this morning. First impressions are very good. It is very smooth and certainly feels wider than anticipated. It makes an immediate, positive difference to be cycling away from the traffic. Local residents also seem to have adapted brilliantly to the new parking arrangements. At least a dozen cars were parked in the new spaces without any encroachment into the cycleway.

Here's a few photos (note the lady with her passenger door open, barely obstructing the cycleway at all):

This is very much still a work in progress, however. It is a big change and everybody will need to take extra care for a while. Until the cycleway is fully completed there are a few tricky transitions for cyclists from the road to the cycleway and then back to the road. Drivers will also need to watch out for cyclists merging back into traffic.

Apart from that, get down there and check it out! It's a great opportunity to get used to how it works before the project is officially finished. The completed sections are absolutely fine for kids to ride along but I would not recommend letting them go past the end of the completed sections yet.

With a little bit of courtesy and common sense on all sides there should be no issues. Remember that just because something is the way it is at the outset doesn't necessarily mean it has to stay that way. If you have any issues or you think there are aspects of the cycleway that could be tweaked to make it work better let us know via this website or contact the council directly.

This is probably the most important update on progress yet from the council. The marking out of the new parking spaces that create the cycleway will begin this week on the block between Tamar and Avon Streets. Read more...

New road markings

Starting this week, we will be progressively installing the new road markings and parking spaces needed to create the safer bike lanes. The work will be done in sections, and we’ll need each area to be free of parked cars for a couple of days while it happens.

The work involves removing and resealing a 2-metre wide strip adjacent to the kerb to provide a better surface for riding on. It will happen during the day and be noisy and dusty at times. The new white lines will then be painted overnight.

We’ll also be painting the new centre line.

Tamar to Avon streets

This week, we plan to reseal the road edge and put in the new markings between Tamar and Avon streets. There will be orange cones put out the night before work starts indicating the area that needs to be free of cars by 7am the following morning.

Weather permitting, the preparation, sealing and road marking will happen on the west side (even numbers side) of this block during the day and overnight on Wednesday 9 December. Work on the east side (odd numbers side) will happen on Thursday 10 December. The sealing and road marking work is weather dependent so will need to be delayed if it is wet.

Tamar Street intersection

We’re installing a new pedestrian crossing at this intersection and have completed work at three of the four corners.

Work on the north-west corner is continuing but should be complete by the end of this week. The central island for the crossing is likely to be constructed next week.

Mersey Street intersection

All the work outside the diary is complete along with most of the work on the footpath near the Empire Cinema. New concrete bike paths have been constructed on this side in both locations to provide a safe way to ride past the new and existing pedestrian crossings and the relocated bus stop.

The bus shelter frame is up and the glass will be installed this week. The real-time information sign will also be reinstalled.

A new zebra crossing is going in outside the cinema, and the bus stop is being relocated about 20 metres north of its old location. It should be in use in its new location from this Thursday 10 December.

Work is getting under way on the other side of The Parade, south of the Mersey Street intersection, to create a bike by-pass around the school crossing and bus stop. The bus stop and crossing have been moved south while this happens.

All going well, the new kerbs will be poured here on Wednesday 9 December. Opposite the cinema, we’ll be putting in the ramps for the new pedestrian crossing. The new central islands, north and south of the intersection, are likely to be constructed next week.

Dee Street intersection

Work at this intersection is also under way. We are putting in a zebra crossing slightly south of the existing crossing point and installing a bike path around it and the bus stop.

Last week we excavated the edge of the footpath and road. The new kerbline will be poured this week. Most of the work in this area is on the eastern side and should be finished before Christmas.

​So from this week the cycleway will incrementally start to appear. This will be a big change for all road users so please take extra care, especially while some sections of The Parade are kerbside cycleway and other sections are not.

If you are cycling be careful as you move between the different sections and watch out for people and cars crossing the cycleway. People could be getting into or out of cars, getting to or from a bus-stop, or using a pedestrian crossing. They have a right to be there so please give way if the cycleway is temporarily obstructed. Also be aware of cars pulling into and out of driveways. Moderate your speed so that you can safely stop if you need to. Enjoy the fact that you won't feel like you need to be competing with moving traffic.

If you are driving please be take extra care as you pull into and out of driveways. Cyclists will not be in quite the same place as you are used to. The same applies to intersections. Please try and avoid overtaking a cyclist on the cycleway if you are about to turn left at an intersection. The cyclist has the right of way if they are travelling straight through. As you approach the main shops make sure you slow down to 30 kph and be aware that the cycleway doesn't carry on through the shopping centre so cyclists will be merging back into traffic. Make sure that you park in the marked parking spaces and not in the cycleway!

With a little bit of courtesy and common sense on all sides there should be no issues. Remember that just because something is the way it is at the outset doesn't necessarily mean it has to stay that way. If there are aspects of the cycleway that you think need to be tweaked to make them work better let us know via this website or contact the council directly.

Keep up with all the latest information at the council's dedicated webpage: Island Bay Upgrade

​Forza Island Bay!

Just for the record - we were invited to be interviewed for last night's piece on the Island Bay cycleway that appeared on TV3's Story but politely declined to participate. The main reason was that it was clear even before any filming had taken place that the narrative would be based on "divided community" and "bedroom to boardroom" rhetoric that is mis-leading and out-of-date. This decision may have contributed to a more one-sided piece but so be it. The cycleway is now being built so it's time to move on.  Patrick Morgan from the Cycling Action Network was interviewed but his comments were not used.

The focus is now on taking full advantage of the wonderful opportunity that the cycleway presents  and maximising the potential benefit to the community. We also think that once the cycleway is completed it will be more than capable of speaking for itself.

Anyone who wants to read more about the benefits of protected cycleways and how they help to get more people riding bikes can do so here.

There's lots going on this week! Here's the latest update from the council on progress:

Shopping centre

All the work in the shopping centre is now finished apart from some road markings.

We have remarked parking spaces and most line markings. The red surfacing at either end of the 30km/h, and areas of green, will be applied later in December once the new surface has cured (or oxidised). 

Speed humps south and north of the new raised crossings still need to be installed. This will happen later this week.

 Avon Street

The bike by-pass has been completed around the southbound bus stop near Avon Street.

Work is also progressing on the other side, outside the church. The new kerbline, curved concrete bike path and the concrete slab for the new shelter are finished.

We plan to put porous paving in around the tree next week.

The new bus shelter will be installed this week. Buses are expected to begin stopping here from this Friday 4 December. The new bus stop will replace the existing city-bound ones just north and south of this stop.

Tamar Street

We’re installing a new pedestrian crossing at this intersection. 

The new kerbs on the south side of the intersection are in. The new ramps and poles for the crossing will be installed this week.

The city-bound bus stop has been temporarily moved south while the work is in progress. From Friday 4 December, buses will no longer stop here. They will instead stop at the new stop by Avon Street.

The new kerbs on the north side of the intersection will be poured this week and the footpath reinstated. Work at this intersection is expected to be finished by Friday 11 December.

Mersey Street

A new pedestrian crossing point and bike by-pass outside the Mersey Street diary is almost complete. The new kerbs and curved concrete bike path are in, and this week we will reinstate the footpath in this area.

We have put in the first half of the bike by-pass outside the Empire Cinema and will complete the other half this week. 

A new zebra crossing is going in outside the cinema, and the bus stop has been relocated about 20 metres north of its old location. The new curved concrete path will allow people on bikes to by-pass the pedestrian crossing and the bus stop.

To make these changes, the bus shelter has been temporarily removed. It will be reinstalled this week in its new location and all going well, should be in use from Thursday 10 December.

Work on the crossing and new central island will start this week.

Work will also start on the eastern side of the street, south of the intersection, to create a bike by-pass around the school crossing and bus stop. The bus stop and crossing will be moved south while this happens.

Dee Street

Work at this intersection gets under way this week. We’ll be upgrading the existing pedestrian crossing and installing a bike by-pass.

As in other areas, the first task will be to excavate the edge of the footpath and road in preparation for laying the new kerbline. Work in this area is expected to be finished before Christmas.

Keep up with all the latest information at the council's dedicated webpage: Island Bay Upgrade