Simeon Street Renewal

This is a street "renewal" project on Simeon Street, which also happens to be on an excellent cyling route from Hagley Park to the Heathcote River, and will be identified in the forthcoming cycling guide (map). 

The proposal is to extend the curbing out and increase the berm area between Coronation Street and Andrew Crescent.  This has already been done to a short section of Simeon St and to part of Collins Street.  A potential problem is that this narrows the carriageway and if cars are parked along the curb (there can be a surprising number around the Brougham St intersection) this pushes cyclists out into the traffic.

It may be better to provide indented parking areas along the proposed new berm areas to overcome this.

The consultation plan is attached.  Submissions close Wednesday 4 November, 2009.

An email submission has been sent as follows:

Dear Angela

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission on this proposed street renewal project.  Simeon Street forms part of an excellent quiet cycling route from Hagley Park to the Heathcote River, and is identified as a route on the Council's Season of Cycling website at:  http://www.seasonofcycling.co.nz/rides/getting-around/25-somerfield-city

While Spokes is generally in favour of projects that involve traffic calming and street "greening" we are concerned that the proposal to narrow the width of the carriageway between Coronation St and Andrew's crescent may reduce the attractiveness and safety of this road for cycling.  The reason for this is that the previous street renewal works in both Simeon and Collins Streets on either side of Brougham Street (and Grove Road)have narrowed the carriageway to the extent that there is no longer separate road space for parked cars, cyclists and other vehicles.  As a result "pinch" points are created in these areas when cars are parked on both sides of the road and passing traffic can be intimidating for cyclists.  Parking appears to be a particular problem at weekends, and on Collins Street regularly includes a delivery truck.  An extension of the existing street narrowing south down Simeon Street could exacerbate this conflict, particularly if more road side parking or urban intensification occurs in the future, as appears to have happened in both Collins St and Grove Road .

We consider that a simple solution to this issue would be to recess parking into the berm area, so that parked cars do not extend out beyond the proposed curb line.  This would provide additional "greening" of the street, and ensure that cyclists are more visible and have adequate road space.  If parking is not recessed, then more road width should be provided.   We also note that, with the wider berm, some residents appear to be parking cars on the grass rather than the road.  Providing dedicated parking areas may help reduce this practice.

We also consider that the curve in Simeon Street at house numbers 148/ 161 is two gentle.  It appears to be geometrically designed for 60-70 km/h speeds rather than a neighbourhood street.  We request that the curve be engineered to a tighter radius to suit local traffic conditions.  This would also contribute to traffic calming in the street.

The approaches on both sides of Coronation Street should be reduced to 6 metres in width from the proposed 7 metre so that overtaking of cyclists and "pinching" them to the curb just before the intersection is discouraged. 

Thanks again for the opportunity to consult.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or require further information.  We would like the opportunity to attend any site meeting or hearing held to consider the project.

Yours sincerely
Robin Delamore

Cycling Improvements convenor - Spokes