NZTA Update on the One-Ways

Editors Note: Spokes received an update today from Simon Underwood, NZTA’s Project Team Manager leading the review of Dunedin state highway cycle lanes. Upon his request, we are pleased to post this to our members and the community. While Spokes will reply later on behalf of the organization, you are encouraged to discuss on social media and respond to these important questions individually (please cc any NZTA correspondence to SPOKES). We are encouraged by the experience of the NZTA team looking at the issues, the willingness to receive cyclist and community input, and the acknowledgment that further design development and planning and financial programming will be part of a long term effort.

Dear Fellow Cyclist,

Following the death of Dr He in November last year, we’ve received many emails* along with a request from the Dunedin City Council seeking a review of the safety of the state highway one-way system for cyclists.  Also up for discussion is how best to provide for cycle travel through the central city network as a whole.

(* and thank-you, if you are one of those persons who have already taken the trouble to email us.)

Together with Dunedin City Council transport and traffic staff, we have started this review, in which there are broadly two streams:

In the medium to long term, how should cycle travel be best provided for?  This will take a more strategic view as to what a safe central city cycle network could look-like; researching practice elsewhere, and then looking at options to improve route choice and safety of those routes within the context of our city. This is expected to lead to longer term measures and involve further design development, planning and financial programming, wider community input, as well as adaption of current standards/statutory requirements.

And for the now/immediate term, what ‘quick wins’ can be implemented?  Overall, the current cycle lanes and shared paths along the one-way system, comprise a network of some 8km. The ‘quick wins’ are therefore aimed at addressing/improving any key site specific safety risks, along this network.

We don’t have ‘lines on paper’ just yet, and although many general concerns and ideas have been gleaned from feedback received thus far, we would still appreciate feedback on:

Where are those key locations of concern along the one-way system (what blocks or locations to you have most concern with)?

1. What is the issue?
2. What would you like to see done?
3. Conversely, are there sections of the one-way system that you feel more comfortable with?

And similarly, in traveling (north – south) through the central city, we appreciate that there are differences in choice of route.

1. Over what sections of the one-way system, do you feel you are most compelled to use and why (eg are alternate routes too far out the way, or are there constraints or safety concerns applicable to those routes)?
2. What routes do you use as an alternative to certain sections of the one-way system?
3. What alternate routes would like to see developed in preference to sections of the one-way system?

So if you’re able to provide feedback in relation to the above prompts, or have any other comment to make, please send an email by 18 February 2013 to  dunedinshcyclelanes@nzta.govt.nz  (Attention Simon Underwood).

Photo Gallery: Typical Ride on the One Way Heading North

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