Christchurch Bus Priority Measures Consultation: Travis Road/Bassett Street

Transit New Zealand
PO Box 1479 Christchurch Mail Centre
Christchurch 8140

Attention: Mike Tottman

Dear Mike

Re: Christchurch Bus Priority Measures Consultation - Travis Road/Bassett Street

This is a submission from Spokes Canterbury. Thanks for allowing us to have additional time to make the submission.

Spokes supports the introduction of bus priority measures in Christchurch. However, we have identified several issues for cyclists that are associated with the proposed Travis Road/ Basset Street project which we would like to see addressed in the final design. These are:

Raised traffic island
The replacement of the flush median by a raised traffic creates a pinch point for cyclists on this part of Travis Road. While there is an off road cycle path along this side of the road, many cyclists are likely to continue to use the roadway. We consider that, for safety reasons, a cycle lane should be provided along the left side of the east bound lane of Travis Road. There was a cycle lane on this side of Travis Road before the flush median was introduced.

Cyclists turning right from Basset Street
Under the current design, cyclists turning right from Basset Street and using the merge lane will be stuck between two merging lanes of traffic with nowhere to go. This could be addressed by either providing a gap in the solid median straight ahead from the Bassett St approach, so that cyclists can safely wait for a gap in eastbound traffic before moving to the safety of a shoulder on the north side, or possibly a flush median refuge at the eastern end the raised traffic island.

Traffic turning left into Basset Street
The left turning lane on Travis Road appears rather narrow and it would appear that one would have to drive along the length of the cycle lane before turning into Bassett Street. This needs to be addressed in the final design. At the very least, the red cycle lane marking on the west bound lane of Travis Road should be extended to the east to cover all the deceleration area.

Access to the combined pedestrian/ cycle crossing
To improve safety and assist those cyclists turning out of Basset Street who wish to use the proposed traffic island crossing (as well as those travelling west along Travis Road who wish to leave the road to use the crossing) parking should be prohibited on the left of Travis Road between Basset Road and the proposed pedestrian/ cycle crossing. A curb extension and off road cycle path should also be provided on this section of the footpath. The entrance to the pedestrian/ cycle crossing through the raised traffic island should also be designed to facilitate entry by cyclists turning into the crossing from both the eastbound and west bound lanes of Travis Road.

We look forward to seeing the final design. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.

I find it rather rich when it says "all cyclist ... movements will be maintained". It looks like a new barrier to cycling that Transit is proposing here:
1) For cyclists turning right into Travis Road, the merge will be an impossible manoeuvre. What is needed is a gap in the solid median straight ahead from the Bassett St approach, so that cyclists can safely wait for a gap in eastbound traffic before moving to the safety of a shoulder on the north side.
2) Yes, the safety of a shoulder on the north side. Where is that facility?
3) The left turning lane on Travis Road appears rather skinny and it would appear that one would have to drive along the length of the cycle lane before turning into Bassett Street. Transit built a facility like this before (on Halswell Road approaching Curletts Road), it didn't work at all and it got removed again. Now if that doesn't work on a road with a 50 km/h speed limit, how can this possibly work in this environment (remind me, isn't the speed limit 70 km/h here?)? Is this the reason for not colouring the cycle lane through this deceleration area?

Transit keeps paying lip service to improving the transport network for cycling, but the reality is that they are often doing the exact opposite.

1) The replacement of the flush median by a raised traffic island creates a pinch point opposite the Basset Road intersection, and a cycle lane should be provided along the left side of the east bound lane of Travis Road.
2) A flush median refuge should be provided for cyclists to the left of the right turn merge lane at the eastern end the raised traffic island (otherwise cyclists turning right from Basset Street are going to be stuck between two merging lanes of traffic with nowhere to go).
3) The red cycle lane marking on the west bound lane of Travis Road should be extended to the east to cover all that part of the road affected by traffic turning left into Basset Street.
4) Parking should be prohibited on the left of Travis Road between Basset Road and the proposed pedestrian/ cycle crossing, and a kerb extension and off road cycle path should be provided on this section to assist those cyclists turning out of Basset Street who wish to use the crossing, as well as cyclists travelling west along Travis Road who wish to leave the road to use the crossing.
5) The entrance to the pedestrian/ cycle crossing through the raised traffic island should be designed to facilitate entry by cyclists turning into the crossing from both the eastbound and west bound lanes of Travis Road.

Some comments from Glen:
" what would be nice is if, in doing this, they could also GIVE US BACK our eastbound cycle lane that they took away when putting in the painted median ("oh but you can all ride on the nearby pathway..."). At least at the moment, cars can overtake a bike using the median, but by introducing a long solid island this will make for a grotty pinchpoint for cycling. And why hasn't the red colouring on the westbound cycle lane been extended further back to where presumably turning cars will start to move over?"

I wonder also if there is sufficient width:
a) In the merge lane for cyclists turning right from Bassett Street.
b) for cyclists travelling west who wish to make use of the proposed crossing, but in doing so may be squeezed up against the riased island.
A couple of potnential pinch points?