Riccarton Bush path to be closed "after hours"?
A problem is brewing with the cycle/pedestrian path through Riccarton Bush, which is an important link (and on one of the CCC's 10 chosen cycle paths on latest map). I noticed a report from the riccarton bush trust board to RSNZ Canterbury which mentions the Trust Board being keen on a "perimeter fence to control public access" due to vandalism after hours etc. As this would presumably block the cycle/pedestrian access after hours, I asked Michael Ferrigo at CCC if he had been having discussions with them about it. He replies yes, the Trust board are keen to put a perimeter fence and this would close off the pathway "after hours" (not sure what hours are proposed). The land is a reserve administered by the Trust and the CCC has no direct say in this (though I think CCC has a rep on the Board, as do RSNZ and I think the University). The focus is on protecting the heritage house. CCC have apparently been working on this to find a compromise plan, and have been counting cycles etc to show how many would be negatively affected, but sounds like they are not getting anywhere with that so far.
I guess something to add to the Spokes agenda: can we influence the Trust Board or help CCC influence them? In case anyone doesn't know the history, there was a long tussle a few years back between the Trust and the CCC where the Trust wanted to divert the cycle path behind Riccarton House to keep the area in front of Riccarton House clear, but the CCC eventually persuaded them to go with the current modestly sunken path which has a raised edge to keep the cycles on the defined path. But this new fence proposal could be a hard one to dissuade them from.
Dave
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| CCCVCountData - Riccarton Bush Cycleway.xls | 15.5 KB |
Spokes Canterbury Newsletter
User login
Who's online
Online users
- hawked
I am not so concerned about
I am not so concerned about access after dark but there should be cycle and walking access to the corner of Titoki St and Rimu St, Closing this access is really annoying particularly on a Saturday. The new path does not help very much as people are changing their parking patterns to get closer. Also the Kahu St bike path through to Boys High. Both could be closed at night.
There was some info in The
There was some info in The Press about the new fencing (8 April). I'm not at all happy with the implications of this for walking & cycling, esp:
(1) walkers/cyclists going through the Reserve to connect to the Matai St pathway now have to do a dogleg via the main carpark access on what is a fairly busy road
(2) evidently the gates at each end will be shut "after sunset", thus blocking off night-time thoroughfare. I could imagine this would be especially annoying if you've come from Uni and get to Ngahere St before finding the gate shut and having to backtrack.
(3) The City Council has been considering improved cycle route options between Uni and town and clearly the fencing affects the possible options.
The site manager says "a pedestrian gateway would be considered if there was enough demand." What on earth do you call the clearly well-worn pathways already present? Their own data shows strong walk/cycle numbers at present even without a formal pathway. I can also safely predict that a new well-worn path will soon appear just outside the new fenceline...
Glen Koorey
Spokes Core Member
More on Riccarton House
More on Riccarton House fence
The gates are now in place and being closed, according to signs there, from 6:30pm to 6am. It seems to me a key requirement is to get "diversion" signs up at both ends so less-experienced cyclists and walkers know where the diversion is and what hours they are required to use it. It's not a terrible diversion for a bike, but on foot the extra distance would be annoying, and more importantly it is not at all obvious where the best alternative route would be. Ideally there would be signs at the entrance to Ngahere St so you don't have to go to the end of it and get sent back again. It's not clear if responsibility for erecting such signs is the job of the CCC or the Riccarton Bush Trust Board. At the Kahu Road end the signs would ideally be on the Trust's new fence. As a first step I'll email Michael Ferrigo and see if he has given this any thought.
Glen's prediction of a well worn path around the outside of the fence (for Boys High boys coming from Rimu/Titoki Sts) has been pre-empted, today there were diggers laying a new walking path into the grass around the edge of the new fence. Nice, and undoubtably expensive, but no help for those wanting to go east/west through the reserve.
Call me a cynic but when Glen says the City Council has been considering improved options between Univ and town, I wonder where the evidence is. A year ago I spent an afternoon helping with the "audit" of their flagship route 10 which runs through this area, but nothing has come from any of our suggestions (including a number around Riccarton House), apparently there is no money for doing anything. Unlike, say, new fences round reserves, or new footpaths around the edge of new fences.
Dave
What is the latest about
What is the latest about this?
I passed on info. to Kate Hewson. Dave are you able to follow this up please? I would be willing to go before the Riccarton Board Trust to argue the case if that is necessary. But I am really busy with getting South Island LTCCP and RLTP submissions done so can not follow this up right now. And meanwhile things may be happening that become hard to reverse...
Noticed today that a section
Noticed today that a section of new fence has gone up along the Kahu Road boundary, starting at the Boys High end. This now blocks the direct cycle way across Kahu to the pathway besides Boys High. Unless they insert a gate very soon, anyone travelling along the council's cycleway 10b will have to go along the main driveway from Riccarton House, turn left for 100 metres along Kahu, and then attempt to cross over to the Boys High pathway that leads to Matai street and Hagley Park. Coming from town it will be even less obvious.
The disadvantage of riding along Kahu is that it's very busy with cars pulling in and out at pickup and dropoff time from Boys High, which is of course the time a lot of school kids use this cycle route.
I wonder if there is a
I wonder if there is a significant issue here. It depends a bit on the hours when the path will be closed. The counts show that, after 9.00pm and before 6pm there are very low numbers using the path. There is also the option of using Kahu Road which runs parallel, has cycle lanes and is pretty quiet after hours.
It may be a better tactic to try and pusuade the Trust Board that in return for the closure, they upgrade (or allow council to upgrade) the informal path that leads to the Matai Street route.
Monitoring stats. for cycling use of Riccarton Bush path
I've attached some monitoring stats from CCC for cycle use of the Riccarton Bush path to Daves original post(can't attach them to this comment unfortunately). They only cover two weeks from October last year. At that time use before 7am and after 9pm appears to be fairly low. Does anyone know what is meant by "after hours"?
monitoring done by Merrett for ViaStrada
I did monitoring of all traffic for Warren when he was working for the Trust on the proposal to fence the whole park; he has contact details
'after hours' means when House closed
ie when no staff are at Riccarton House - Restaurant and Rangers
RR contact report
I called the Riccarton Reserve to get contact details. Rob Dally is contact for Riccarton Bush, Chairman of the Trust is Charles Dean PO Box 8276 Chch
Rob is very nice, a keen cyclist. He said that they are still in the planning phase. They did a cycle count and found little night time use of the path.
Their concern is for vandalism, which is frequent, and rubbish, from night time drinking.
I stressed that lighting and video along with increased use would be a better approach. We need to take back the area from the hoons. He was open but there are also neighbors who want it closed.
He also mentioned that a solictor had advised that the cycle way is ultra viries, apparently not allowed.
Charles Deans
I've liaised with Charles Deans before and found him very approachable and level headed. Sorry, I don't have contact details for him.
Riccarton bush trust
Here's some information about the Trust form the LTCCP that may be of interest. Turns out it is largely appointed by CCC.
Riccarton Bush Trust
Riccarton Bush Trust manages a 6.4 hectare native bush
remnant gifted to the people of Canterbury in 1914. The
trust manages Riccarton House and its 5.4 hectares of
grounds including Deans Cottage, the first house built on
the Canterbury Plains. Incorporated under a 1914 Act of
Parliament, the Riccarton Bush Trust has powers to levy
the Council for funding which contributes towards the
maintenance and operation of Riccarton Bush, Riccarton
House and its grounds. The Christchurch City Council
appoints six of the nine members on the Trust Board.
Nature and scope of activities
The Trust maintains and operates Riccarton Bush,
Riccarton House and its grounds.
I had a chat with Kate
I had a chat with Kate Hewson today about Riccarton Bush saga, have sent her our thoughts. She will contact Dave soon. She "audited" the "University Cycle Route" (route 10 goes through Riccarton Bush and also along Creyke Rd) on the CCC Cycle map with Trudy Jones.
Kate and I thought she should talk with Dave first, then with Trudy Jones to see what CCC thinks about it all.
Let's get in before a decision is soldified. Kate said Uni does not promote the route after dark as is not safe but obviously is a key day route. I don't think we should make that decision re people should ride it i.e. that individuals (as I did) should decide if they want to take the risk. Biking to South Brighton on a Healing 10 speed everyday meant I took the risk (also through Hagley Park, something I might find too scarey these days, however what option do cyclists have, apart from a long circumvent and then along Harper Avenue-have you tried that road recently!)
Riccarton bush path
I think this is an important issue for Spokes (and CCC who have identified this as part of one of their key routes). Do you want to take up cudgels on this issue Dave? Fiona's suggestions of involving Kate and Glen sound sensible. I would have thought that the students association and the environment group would also have a major interest.
This path is critical to be
This path is critical to be available "after hours". I used it as a student biking home late from lectures/labs/library (albeit I had to steel myself as it was abit scarey as there are no houses to hear any calls for help along the path). If a perimeter fence is necessary this could go around the house and exclude the path. No way should this be closed it needs to be improved though as is too narrow and needs better lighting and entry and exit points. A survelliance camera might help prevent vandalism and would help cyclists and pedestrians feel safer too. Suggestions GET KATE HEWSON (Uni of Canty Sustainability Advocate) involved, and Glen Koorey (he is on a Transport Committee, not sure what it is called as is Kate but I think there is quite a few players including CCC and NZTA? Or Police). This is a key route for connectivity.