The Waipuna Halswell Hornby Riccarton Plan due 6 March
https://www.ccc.govt.nz/the-council/consultations-and-submissions/haveyoursay/show/294
Spokes appreciates the Board’s stated commitment “Pedestrians and road users should feel safe using the roading networks and have confidence that infrastructure is in place to ensure they are able to do so. Improving these connections provides the community the ability to access work, study and play, as well as connecting with others and creating vibrant communities.” Please apply this focus across all the wards to create integrated transport planning.
Including safe cycling infrastructure should be prioritized as it supports these goals and Council’s commitment to being carbon neutral by 2045. Getting children and adults onto bicycles improves public, personal and community health and lowers transport costs. It also significantly reduces emissions.
With higher density congestion and parking problems increase. We do not have the money or space for all of us to drive as our primary mode. Providing safe cycle infrastructure offers affordable relief, saving ratepayers and supporting mode choice.
Transport mode equity should be a reality for all of us, 8 to 80, sooner rather than later. The Board needs to work out where the funding will come from to meet people’s transport needs.
Spokes applauds the Board’s desire to increase citizen participation. Please work with people who walk and cycle regularly early on to make transport and recreation projects meet their needs. Spokes is happy to sit down with the Board and/or staff to share the experience of our members.
It is also good to see that the Board wants recreation space accessible to children of all ages. Having facilities served by cycle infrastructure which parents feel comfortable letting their children use can increase activity and uptake. It also teaches children much needed life skills and confidence.
Community safety is enhanced by cycling. Having people on bikes, “eyes on the street” supports community connectedness and CPTED goals.
Hornby’s new library and community centre at Kyle Park needs excellent safe cycle infrastructure, including bike parking. Work with people who cycle regularly early on in developing the plans. Council has not done enough here.
The local cycle networks in all these areas and connections to the wider cycle network need prioritizing to support mode equity and meet carbon reduction goals. A Quiet Streets approach can work in many instances. People who cycle regularly are a valuable resource for developing safe local cycle networks.
Roads are for transport, not vehicle storage. Road safety and transport equity are not achieved by prioritizing on street parking over making streets safe for all users. Businesses often underestimate the custom from people on bicycles. Please see footnotes below.
Council has recently consulted on lower speed limits for Riccarton Road. The proposal was inadequate. Road safety and transport mode equity need the Board to support lower speed limits on Riccarton Road, surrounding streets and connecting links to the Uni Cycle and other cycle routes.
Footnotes:
Bikes Good for Business
July 2017 piece https://cycwell.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/cycleways-support-local/
http://caa.org.nz/biking-loves-local-businesses-time-for-vice-versa/
The Press 16.12.15
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/75117984/The-business-benefits-of-bikeways
Travel modes and expenditure patterns: A snapshot of South Colombo Street, Christchurch
Hayden J. Slaughter, Tessa L. Meyer, Johann S. Kissick, Louis O. Go and Shunsuke Sakai
University of Canterbury Geography Department, Christchurch, New Zealand Finds benefits to business in Beckenham Christchurch from cycling customers.
