This is the NZTA side of the current submissions relating to Banks Peninula. Chris Abbott emailed the following submission to chchtoakaroaspeeds@nzta.govt.nz on Fri 3/12/21 at 6:21 p.m.
The CCC submission will be posted to this site, https://www.spokes.org.nz/submissions, presently.
To: NZTA
The proposals to lower the speed limit on and around SH 73, 74 and 75 are sound and probably overdue. Spokes would like the lower speeds extended to Summit Road and all roads that connect to it on the grounds that it is extremely dangerous to do speeds much greater than 60kph for most of those roads. A 60kph limit already applies on the Sumner Road between Sumner and Lyttelton. I can recall at least six fatalities (two vehicle accidents killing four in one accident and one in the other, and a cycle fatality in a separate accident) on the Sumner side of Evans Pass, and a recent 2021 vehicle fatality on the Lyttelton side of Evans Pass. Speed may not have been the only factor in all of these accidents but it was a factor in some. Sports & recreational cyclists use these roads a lot. A young lady, Vanessa Caldwell, was killed during Le Race in 2001. I will never forget passing the accident scene a few minutes after her crash. Slower traffic speeds may have meant this lady was still with us. Young people that live and holiday in these well-used bays deserve better than having motor vehicles trying to do excessive speeds in these environments.
Spokes agrees that the speed limit through Little River township be restricted to 50kph as the township is often busy with cars & motorcyclists parking on both sides of the road and pedestrians crossing to patronise the various cafes and art gallery in Little River. Cyclists tend to park on the NW side of the road, but still often needing to cross the road.
As to speed limit on the Takamatua Straight, the important consideration is that there is a clear 1.5m passing distance for vehicles passing cyclists and pedestrians.
Spokes is ever hopeful and advocating for a law to set a safe passing distance past cyclists.
As to Norwich Quay and other Lyttelton streets, Spokes supports a 40kph speed, as the distances are short, many of the streets are steep and narrow and faster speeds are unsafe – and hard to reach.
First name: Chris
Last name: Abbott
Phone: 021 654 344
Email: secretary@spokes.org.nz
Address: 101B Nayland St
Suburb: Sumner
CityTown: Christchurch
Postcode: 8081
Name of organisation: Spokes Canterbury
Your role: Secretary & Submissions Convenor
