Update for the week 14-20 December

17/12/2015

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.

5 Comments

Jeremy

18/12/2015 04:26:26 pm

I am asking you this rather that the council, because, let's face it, the council don't have a great reputation as change managers.

Have you been consulted as a group, about how the final change-over will be managed - specifically:
- what, if any, bylaws will be put in place governing the use of the cycleway?
- educating pedestrians, skaters or even scooter riders about the use of the cycle lane,
- how cyclists should behave in the shared footpath spaces (particularly on the western side bus stop outside the church where there is no room for a footpath) and the disabled parking areas,
- whether cyclists MUST use the cycleway where it is available.
- what additional risk management will be put in place, for what seems to be a few car parks inside the cyclelane, just north of the shopping area on the eastern side.

As I say I don't think the council operate the gold standard of working with the public to smooth the transition of such big changes, which effect a such wide range of users (think of the chaos caused by the Manners street, Willis street bus changes) - so I am interested if they have consulted with one of the main advocacy groups on this change.

As it is the gradual change over with the parking space changes has no obvious or clear communication around it - is the bike lane actually in place where the line has been painted? Or does that happen on a certain date and time, should people park only in the new spaces or is ok to use where the old spaces were for now? Clearly, what ever it is it doesn't seem to apply to anyone driving a traffic management vehicle!! (Don't expect you to know the answer that by the way, just an example :))

Thanks

Regan

21/12/2015 02:19:44 pm

Hi Jeremy,

There's quite a bit in your comment but I'll do my best to answer where I can. In general, yes - there has been consultation on many of these matters. Quite a few of them were discussed by the Island Bay Cycleway Working Party, which I was a member of: http://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/your-council/projects/files/Cycle-ways/IB-CycleWay-WorkingPartyReport.pdf. We've also been directly consulted on some other matters.

Taking each of your bullet points in turn:
- My understanding is that no new by-laws are planned or needed for the cycleway.
- Some education has been done (eg. http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/projects/the-parade-upgrade/section-1-the-parade-upgrade/using-the-new-parking-spaces-and-bike-lanes) with more to come.
- The by-passes are part of the cycleway, so technically people on bikes have priority, but the advice is to give way to pedestrians when they are temporarily crossing or blocking the cycleway. I think that will naturally occur anyway.
- Cyclists don't have to use the cycleway but the advice from the council and cycling advocates is that they should. It's way too early to know if this will actually be an issue.
- There will definitely be some tweaking required in certain spots. The cycleway ends just prior to the car parks you refer to, however, and they are within the 30kph zone. Having to ride behind angle parked cars in the shopping centre is a major compromise but one that was made at the outset.

We were not consulted on the decision to do a "soft launch" and start painting the new car parks section by section before the project is completed. There are pros and cons to that so it doesn't particularly worry me although you are right that it is a bit confusing trying to work exactly where cars should and shouldn't be parked at the moment. My understanding is that residents of The Parade have received letters explaining the changes as they are rolled out however.

Hope that helps.

21/12/2015 11:56:39 pm

Good stuff, very interesting, thanks for the comprehensive response. Above and beyond.

John

13/1/2016 04:33:13 pm

NEW ZEALAND SUPPLEMENT TO THE AUSTROADS
GUIDE TO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PRACTICE
PART 14: BICYCLES
4.4.1
Cycle lanes should not be placed between the kerb and parked cars as there will be no escape for cyclists if a car door is suddenly opened. In addition, cyclists will be hidden by parked cars from the view of drivers turning across the cycle lane from other lanes on the road.

15/1/2016 11:51:33 am

Hi John, that guidance dates from 2008 and has largely (but not entirely) been superseded by other local, national and international guidance. Kerbside cycleways are absolutely accepted as an option now. From a cyclist's point of view I would much prefer to run into the kerb if forced to swerve than out into traffic. I do agree that it would ultimately be much better to either introduce "forgiving kerbs" that allow cyclists to ride up onto the pavement if necessary, or raise the level of the entire cycleway to the level of the pavement. Both of these options would cost money, of course. In the meantime the current arrangement seems to work well. Cheers.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Update for the week 14-20 December

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