Ref: https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/haveyoursay/show/487
Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 members and is affiliated with the national Cycling Action Network (CAN – https://can.org.nz/). Spokes is dedicated to including cycling as an everyday form of transport in the greater Christchurch area.
We would like the opportunity to appear at any public hearing held to consider submissions on these projects. Should there be an officer’s report or similar document(s) we would appreciate a copy(s).
Overall Spokes supports the cycling improvements proposed for Antigua Street, but offers some suggestions as to how it should be improved farther.
Background
Antigua Street is ALREADY one of the busiest cycle routes within Christchurch, as demonstrated by the following screenshot taken at c.0945 on 15 March 2022 of CCC’s Cycle Counter website at https://smartview.ccc.govt.nz/map/layer/ecocounter#/@172.60104,-43.53622,13
Antigua Street (7-day-total) Counters include:
– 3,759 (one-way on Antigua St south of Moorhouse Ave)
– 10,147 (two-way, Antigua St bridge)
Date captured: 15 March 2022 c.0945.
The numbers represent counts for the last seven days.
Green circles represent one-way counts.
Purple circles represent two-way counts.
Improving the cycle infrastructure with wider cycle lanes and safer intersections can only lead to an increase in usage. It reinforces the rapid growth of cycling in Christchurch seen since the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence of 2010-11 and the subsequent significant growth of cycling infrastructure in Christchurch. It also supports the climate change emergencies declared by both Christchurch City Council and Government with a call to active transport as one of the mitigation strategies to tackle both the climate change crisis and NZ’s obesity crisis
Spokes asks that
1) CCC consider widening the separated one-way cycle lanes on each side of Antigua Street between Moorhouse Ave and St. Asaph Street from the current design of 2.2m. Given the already high usage by a mix of standard cycles and newer ebikes cyclists will desire to travel at a wide range of speeds. Spokes notes that there appears to be significant scope to narrow the strips of plants
2) The surface of the paths used for cycling be kept smooth. Specifically when polled our members indicated a strong dislike for the current striped green-and-black treatment along Antigua Street near St. Asaph St. The juddering sensation when travelling along this section is “uncomfortable” and “does nothing to improve control”
3) Planter Boxes at the Antigua St Bridge be reduced in size or removed entirely to reduce potential conflict between pedestrians and cyclists (and other active transport participants)
4) Discreet traffic-calming signage be added around the Antigua Street bridge. This is a very high traffic area used (in rough order of maximum attainable speed) by e-bikers, other e-transport users, pushbikers and pedestrians, some with children and prams. The potential range of speeds is high – c.30kph down to c.5kph. Unless this historic bridge is widened significantly, all users need to “do unto others as u would have done unto you”. The volume of traffic this bridge services means that it should be a slow zone for all users (and this is a good thing). Spokes does not profess to be experts in terms of determining the signage but would expect the consideration of signs saying “slow”, “10kph”, “beware of children”, etc.
5) Confirm the assumed priority at the roundabout intersection of Cambridge Terrace coming from Montreal St past The Pegasus Arms and Antigua Street (to the NE of the Christchurch Hospital Outpatients Building) so that all traffic heading west along Cambridge Tce and entering the roundabout must give way to traffic on the roundabout. Spokes asks that GIVE WAY signs be installed for all entry points to this roundabout.
6) Consider what measures to put in place along Antigua Street to discourage the Strong and Fearless / Enthused and Confident heading towards the CBD from cutting onto and then across Antigua Street before the St. Asaph lights. (The risk is great for a gain of a few seconds).
7) Replace the trees along Antigua Street with shrubbery that will not intrude into the cycle or road lanes and that will not grow more than c.600mm high. Spokes acknowledge that trees have a lovely aesthetic, but along such a busy route they will do nothing to help road users see one another. They will in fact make it harder to see one another. The submitter cannot think of any other streets within Christchurch’s CBD carrying similar traffic volumes that have the density of trees proposed for Antigua Street, but welcomes advice to the contrary. Spokes considers the beautification benefits do not warrant the safety risks.
8) Think ahead for the likely need for a separate Antigua Street bridge for cyclists and link to a separated cycleway on Rolleston Ave. Spokes thinks it probable that when the tourists return there will be too much traffic for a shared path given the increasing number of cyclists and the potential uplift in tourist numbers.
9) CCC ensure that there is no danger of ice/frost outside the new Recreation Centre in particular, or in general any other large buildings along Antigua Street.
Kind Regards, Chris Abbott
Secretary & Submissions Convenor, Spokes Canterbury
secretary@spokes.org.nz
www.spokes.org.nz
Cell: 021 654 344
Submitted online at https://www.ccc.govt.nz/the-council/haveyoursay/show/487 by Chris Abbott on 15 March 2022 at c.2210.
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NB The submission was as a PDF so formatting of this post may vary slightly from the original submission.
