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Worcester Street cycleway connection (CCC – 488)

Spokes Submission to CCC on Worcester Street cycleway connection https://ccc.govt.nz/the–council/haveyoursay/show/488

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 connection proposed for Worcester Street, but offers some suggestions as to how it should be improved further.

Background

The proposed changes to Worcester Street are planned for what is a quiet road in terms of vehicle traffic, but already used for over 100 cyclist trips per day (789/7) and other unmeasured active transport users.  This route links the Rapanui – Shag Rock MCR with the Christchurch CBD.  The closest cycle counter on Worcester St just east of Stanmore Rd currently reports over 100 cycle movements a day on average, 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date captured: 15 March 2022 c.0945.Nearest current counter is the rightmost green counter on the screenshot, at Worcester  St east of Stanmore Rd, showing a 7-daytota of 789
The numbers represent counts for the last seven days.
Green circles represent one-way counts.
Purple circles represent two-way counts.

The proposed Worcester Street cycleway connection will extend a relatively safe route for cyclists entering the Christchurch CBD via the Rapanui Shag Rock Cycleway.  It will continue the “Worcester St section” shown on the above map into Manchester St and the Christchurch CBD.  Spokes appreciates that crossing Fitzgerald Avenue is controlled by a cycle-specific set of traffic lights, Spokes asks that

  • CCC consider more narrowed points along the route. Spokes notes that there are six narrow traffic-calming measures in Worcester St between Fitzgerald Ave and Stanmore Rd, a distance of just over 500m.  At these points the road narrows and there is a gentle speed bump.  But, excluding Latimer Square, there is only one traffic calming measure in the whole c.600m length of Worcester St between Latimer Square and Fitzgerald Avenue, a speed hump outside 242 Worcester Street.  There are light-controlled intersections at Barbadoes St and Madras St/Latimer Square.  While it may not be intended the message to motorists will be that this section west of Fitzgerald Ave can be traversed much faster than the sections east of Fitzgerald Ave.  The subliminal message is at variance to the posted and practical speed limit of 30kph.
  • CCC align and smoothen the entries into Latimer Square with the on-road cycle lanes leading to the intersection. Current plans show wide deviations and significant bumps needed to traverse Latimer Square.
  • Install a pedestrian crossing for those proceeding along Huanui Lane and crossing Worcester Street. It is important that safety is demonstrated to be top priority.

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/488 by Chris Abbott on 15 March 2022 just before 2200.

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