Comments on: Cycle lanes (update no.2) http://theflea.co.nz/index.php/2009/10/06/cycle-lanes-update-no-2 North Shore Community Radio Sun, 06 May 2012 21:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John Reynolds http://theflea.co.nz/index.php/2009/10/06/cycle-lanes-update-no-2/comment-page-1#comment-134 John Reynolds Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:25:28 +0000 http://www.theflea.co.nz/?p=310#comment-134 Lake Road has been problematic for decades. Built about 100 years ago it was never designed to cope with the 35000 plus vehicles (private, commercial and public) that use it daily. Yet, over the ensuing years, virtually nothing has been done to improve it other than upgraded road surfaces and some traffic lights. The decision to add on-road cycle lanes to cater for a miniscule number of cyclists (1-2% of road users) was hasty and ill-conceived - at the ludicrous cost of $800,000. The resulting slowing down of the traffic (particularly at the Bardia/Winscombe intersection) was either not for-seen or ignored by the zealots who lobbied for the lanes. The current cycle lobby continues to ignore the traffic problems, ignore the green route (a much safer alternatives that adds about 5 minutes to a Hauraki/Devonport journey) and ignore the option of riding on the footpath. Is there an answer? Yes. If we must spend more money to cater for this minority, the safest option is off-road cycle lanes - completely separate from the existing road. This would require Lake Road to be widened a little but it would allow the traffic to flow. The current on-road lanes are certainly not a safe option - since when did a strip of white paint guarantee safety for vulnerable bicycles? We will watch with interest the final result of the Esmonde/Hauraki upgrade which, we are told, will have off-road cycle lanes. Hopefully that will serve as a model for the rest of Lake Road. Dr John Reynolds CLARA (Cycle Lanes Action Review Association. Lake Road has been problematic for decades. Built about 100 years ago it was never designed to cope with the 35000 plus vehicles (private, commercial and public) that use it daily. Yet, over the ensuing years, virtually nothing has been done to improve it other than upgraded road surfaces and some traffic lights.

The decision to add on-road cycle lanes to cater for a miniscule number of cyclists (1-2% of road users) was hasty and ill-conceived – at the ludicrous cost of $800,000. The resulting slowing down of the traffic (particularly at the Bardia/Winscombe intersection) was either not for-seen or ignored by the zealots who lobbied for the lanes. The current cycle lobby continues to ignore the traffic problems, ignore the green route (a much safer alternatives that adds about 5 minutes to a Hauraki/Devonport journey) and ignore the option of riding on the footpath.

Is there an answer? Yes. If we must spend more money to cater for this minority, the safest option is off-road cycle lanes – completely separate from the existing road. This would require Lake Road to be widened a little but it would allow the traffic to flow. The current on-road lanes are certainly not a safe option – since when did a strip of white paint guarantee safety for vulnerable bicycles?

We will watch with interest the final result of the Esmonde/Hauraki upgrade which, we are told, will have off-road cycle lanes. Hopefully that will serve as a model for the rest of Lake Road.

Dr John Reynolds CLARA (Cycle Lanes Action Review Association.

]]> By: Patrick http://theflea.co.nz/index.php/2009/10/06/cycle-lanes-update-no-2/comment-page-1#comment-132 Patrick Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:39:56 +0000 http://www.theflea.co.nz/?p=310#comment-132 There definatley needs to be some sort of better access, especially lake road, i work in devonport and some mornings it can be quite trechorus, especially by the school, has been a few hairy moments with cyclists currently and, they seem to always be, looking around nervously. please keep coments coming especially if you are a cyclist, as this is directly affecting you. patrick There definatley needs to be some sort of better access, especially lake road, i work in devonport and some mornings it can be quite trechorus, especially by the school, has been a few hairy moments with cyclists currently and, they seem to always be, looking around nervously.
please keep coments coming especially if you are a cyclist, as this is directly affecting you.
patrick

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