NZTA are investigating Options for a new four-lane arterial road from the existing Christchurch Northern Motorway and running east of Belfast (SH1) to connect with Queen Elizabeth II Drive (QEII Drive – SH74), as well as the widening of QEII Drive to four lanes between Main North Road and Innes Road.

NZTA states that "the proposal includes consideration of a parallel cycle/walkway connecting with Owen Mitchell Park in the south, running alongside the arterial and connecting with the old state highway bridge over the Waimakariri River in the north, via local roads."

Lets hope this is more than a proposal, as cycle paths along the proposed arterial could, with appropriate linkages, potentially provide a key cycling route to the north of the city.

Submissions close on 19 March 2010 (Apologies for the late notice - there has been not communication with Spokes from NZTA about this project).  They should be sent to: northernarterial [at] nzta [dot] govt [dot] nz

More details and a basic plan of the project can be found at: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/christchurch-northern-corridor/...

NZTA are looking at three options to separate State Highway 1 and Memorial Ave at the Russley Rd intersection (by the Airport).  These options are: 1) Memorial Ave over Russley Rd (bridge), Memorial Road over Russley Rd (tunnel), and 3) Russley Rd over Memorial Ave (bridge).  A three options provide for improved cycle and pedestrian access to the Airport, although Option 1 is less advantageous as cyclists would have to climb to cross over the bridge.

A brochure illustrating the options can be found here:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/memorial-intersection/docs/broc...

Submissions close on Friday 26th of March 2010.  They can be sent to: memorialintersection [at] nzta [dot] govt [dot] nz

Here's a good project - consultation over completion of another section of the Avon "boulevard" shared cycling and walking path along Cambridge Terrace between Madras and Peterborough Streets. It is part of an overall street renewal project for this area.

Currently this is a "missing link" in terms of the good quality shared path that exists along the river both before and after this section.  The existing path entrance off the corner of Kimore/ Madras is narrow, rough and not at all obvious. The project should address these issues.   Last year the council also consulted over the extension of the shared path along Cambridge Terrace section between Barbadoes and Fitzgerald.

The only other issues would appear to relate to the need for signage so that people can pick up the path at the Kilmore Madras corner, and also know that the path is part of cycling Route 7 which takes them down the Avon River, and possibly the adequacy of the overall path width (2.5m) - comments on this please!

The consultation pamphlet with a plan showing the proposed path is attached. Submissions are due at 5pm on 26 March.

The Easy-Osey Sunday Leisure Ride postponed from 28 Feb to 07 March 

Now Sunday 07 March 11am – 1pm (starting and ending at C1 Espresso cafe). 

If you're looking for a central Christchurch alternative to the excellent Selwyn Mayoral Challenge (see the events calendar) then this might be for you.

A gentle city ride for Sunday sleepy-heads.  Meet at C1 Espresso Café (150 High Street, near the corner with Tuam Street) at 10.50am (will return here at the end of the ride for lunch if you fancy)

This ride is about 20km long, and will generally entail quiet streets and pathways beside the Heathcote River and Linwood canal system.  The ride is suitable for less confident city cyclists and those just wanting to see a gentler side of the city on a Sunday morning.  Spokes will take you along two attractive commuter routes from the city centre to Ferrymead and back again.

The ride is based mostly on routes 2 and 12 from the CCC's "Let's Bike Christchurch Cycle Guide 2010".  Maps will be available on the day but feel free to bring your own CCC cycle map.

Bike Maintenance Course

CPIT are running bike maintenance courses in March as follows:

This course will be run four times:
Monday 8 March, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Tuesday 16 March, 12:00 - 1:30pm (2:00pm if you can stay till then)
Tuesday 16 March, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Friday 19 March, 4:30 - 6:30pm

If you'd like to attend, please RSVP to VerityR [at] cpit [dot] ac [dot] nz

If all of these sessions are quite impossible for you please email VerityR [at] cpit [dot] ac [dot] nz and if there are enough folk agreeing on another time that will be offered too. The tutors will bring bikes on which to demonstrate but you may bring your own bike too if you so wish.

Cycle safety and skills course

Sadly, too few people have thus far expressed an interest in this course for it to be run. This may yet change. There are also possibilities of joining in on this course with non-CPIT folk at a venue elsewhere in Christchurch.