ECAN Long Term Plan 2024-2034

Submission from Spokes Canterbury

Reference: https://haveyoursay.ecan.govt.nz/about-the-long-term-plan

Tēnā koutou katoa

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft ECAN Long Term Plan 2024-34.

Introduction

Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 followers. Spokes 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 and Canterbury areas. Spokes has a long history of advocacy in this space including writing submissions, presenting to councils, and working collaboratively with others in the active transport space. We focus on the need for safe cycling for those aged 8 to 80. Spokes supports all forms of active transport. Spokes is also a supporter of multi-modal transport including public transport as it increases the options and distance that cyclists can travel.

Environmental Regulation and Protection

Spokes prefers Option 1 but supports Option 2 with qualifications

Spokes would prefer Option 1 but understands why ECAN prefers Option 2 in the current financial climate
Spokes has a particular concern with air quality and pollution, and would like to see stronger regulation and compliance for the reduction of NOx and particulates from tyre and brake wear, and from fires and log-burners in both urban and rural areas due to their impact on health. For example, a recent study in Neurology has linked PM2.5 particulates from diesel exhausts and other traffic-related air pollutants to Alzheimer’s disease.
As a community group, Spokes believes that supporting the efforts of local groups can be a very effective way to magnify ECAN outcomes, and increase understanding and buy-in with communities who are also rate-payers. Option 2 should increase the community contestable grant funding.
Spokes supports the proposed new targeted rate for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula to accelerate landscape-scale biodiversity as there is a clear need for more to be done.
It is not clear why ECAN is supporting reduced funding levels for catchment-based biodiversity across wider Canterbury by $0.9M. Wider Canterbury should pay some share of this work.
All cities and towns need to be carefully laid out to include corridors of indigenous plantings to ensure native wildlife can continue to co-habit with humans. Effective stormwater basins as well as parks, reserves, and protected areas (like Riccarton Bush) are excellent tools, but these areas need to be joined up into corridors, rather than isolated islands of native habitat. Please join with CCC to include planning for biodiversity (we are in a biodiversity crisis, remember) alongside planning for stormwater, transport, and subdivisions. Councils (including ECan) are limited in what they can regulate through legislation, so it needs to be embedded into the values and strategic priorities.

Targeted Rate for Christchurch district Biodiversity

Spokes supports the Targeted Rate

There are significant physical and mental health benefits to cycling and walking in biodiverse areas. These benefits include

Creating a healthier environment through increased CO2 absorption from plantings, and increased filtering of stormwater from rain gardens and the like, keeping our rivers and oceans cleaner and safer for aquatic species.
plantings creating shady areas that reduce surface heat and sunburn.
reduced stress and increased well-being through greater connection to the natural world, including indigenous plantings and wildlife such as native birds

Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards

Spokes prefers Option 1 but will accept Option 2

We understand the reasons why ECAN has suggested Option 2 in the current financial situation.
CCC and ECAN need to ensure that Fire risk is mitigated appropriately on the Port Hills, the Mackenzie District and other areas. This can be achieved through only allowing native plantings which are resistant to fire, not allowing any pine plantations, and systematically removing other problematic species such a gum trees. This protects biodiversity, reduces the fire risk and the release of CO2, and protects recreational amenities including cycling trails
Roads and paths are a natural area for flooding to pool, so if we want safe cycling in rural and urban areas, we need better flood protection and run-off to keep the roads and cycle paths safe to use.

Public Transport

Spokes Supports Option 1 and believes more can be done to improve Public Transport in Waitaha Canterbury.

Encouraging the shift from using private motor vehicles to walking, cycling and public transport has multiple benefits for our communities. Public transport is equitable, allowing those (young and old) who are unable to drive for a wide variety of reasons to participate in their communities. Moving to electric buses and away from car use reduces emissions supporting our climate change and health goals.

Frequent, reliable, and well-networked public transport benefits all of society through reduced reliance on private motor vehicles, equitable access to transport options, and reduced congestion.

Public Transport is an important backup for cyclists when the weather is bad, the time of day is unsafe, you have a puncture or mechanical breakdown, or for a myriad of other reasons. More people using public transport means less congestion on the roads and therefore increased safety for cyclists.
Spokes strongly supports cycle racks on all buses including MyWay buses. Cycle racks are getting increased use and need to be better maintained. ECAN should monitor demand and increase availability (eg from two to three bike carriers) as required. Bus drivers should be encouraged to kneel the bus when the rack is too high for short people to easily get the bike on due to the road camber. Racks should be designed so bikes are not able to interfere with the bus window wipers when it is raining.
Provide compulsory training for all bus drivers on sharing the road with vulnerable users, including cyclists. Investigate the use of technology such as cameras to give drivers greater visibility in the current blind spots around the bus.
Spokes fully supports the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan and MRT. We support Bus Rapid Transport as it is cheaper, easier, and faster to install, and without tracks it is safer and more friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. We would like to see the Plan completed no later than May 2025 for consultation to be completed before the next local body elections.
Trial the route for the MRT with Express Buses that stop at the proposed stops to see what the demand is. These buses could just run at peak times or could run 7.00am to 6pm every 15 minutes. If successful it would build public support for the MRT.
Public Transport bus and rail options across the South Island are poor, and the current services are unfriendly and unreliable for those travelling with bikes. Please consider providing an alternative service to the Intercity bus with a trailer for guaranteed bike carrying capacity. The Intercity bus service will not guarantee bike transport leaving the decision up to the driver on the day. An alternative service would be of huge benefit for eco-tourists (both those from within NZ and from afar) doing the many cycle trails across Te Waipounamu / the South Island.
Spokes supports the focus on the major bus routes to increase patronage. However, this is ignoring some major gaps in services. Spokes would like to see some funding allocated towards addressing these gaps. Spokes supports targeted quick wins to improve the existing network, particularly where there is proven unmet demand such as express buses to satellite towns such as Lincoln (route 81) and West Melton.
There are gaps in Christchurch. It is not possible for someone working the afternoon or night shift at Christchurch Hospital to use the buses as there is very limited services at 11.15pm when the shifts change. Going to events by bus that finish in the evening in Christchurch is problematic as it can be a long wait for a bus to get home and there are few connecting services. There is no bus to the airport that will arrive in time for check-in for the first flights in the morning. ECAN should look at on-demand services like MyWay to cover some of these gaps in services. Consider also bringing back the after-midnight buses that used to run in Christchurch.
Event buses get people on buses who never use them. Sail GP is a good example of encouraging people to use public transport who would never normally get on a bus. Events at Te Kaha will be best accessed by bus, but there must be a reliable way to get home in a reasonable time.
We support the replacement of diesel buses with electric, and if possible, brought forward. Cyclists and passengers benefit from the quietness and reduced emissions.
We support extending and enhancing services across wider Canterbury. This could be through creating MyWay hubs to service Ashburton and Tinwald; better service for West Melton, Kirwee, Darfield and Leeston; service for Cust, Oxford, Ohoka, Swannanoa and Amberly; service for Tai Tapu, Motukarara, Little River, Duvauchelle, and Akaroa; and services for Governors Bay, Charteris Bay, Church Bay, Diamond Harbour, and Purau.
Spokes would like to see more data publicly accessible on public transport use, and the use of diesel and electric buses including hours of use and VKT, with reports provided annually. There is a perception that e-buses are under-utilised in favour of diesel buses, particularly at night and in the weekend.
Councils should provide more bike-stands at key commuter, destination and bus stops to encourage multi-modal travel. This should ideally include Lockydocks for electric bikes. High quality indoor storage with video cameras should be provided at high frequency stops, park and ride facilities, or places with a large catchment area. Video cameras might not deter thieves entirely but it will make people more comfortable using the facilities. Having a suitable safe space to store bikes increases the catchment areas and patronage as it extends the distance people are willing to travel to catch PT from 400-800m for pedestrians to 2.5-3.0km for cyclists as both trips take around 5-10 minutes. An example would be Halswell which continues to sprawl outwards.
Bring back the free Central Christchurch City yellow shuttle bus going to key destinations within the CBD.
Allow small children’s bikes on the bus, this allows parents to bike with their children.
Advocate for Canterbury to get a fair share of transport funding and focus this share on improved public transport. Christchurch is the second largest city in New Zealand.
Advocate strongly for a fare structure that is equitable, affordable and encourages use of PT. Continue the free 5-12 year fares for children which are important for families.
Flat fares across Greater Christchurch have been a huge success, so please retain this to encourage bus use for those in satellite towns and those going to/via the airport
Reliability is essential for PT. Continue to work on bus bunching on routes such as the Orbiter, provide better information on bus re-routing and the closure of bus stops due to road works. Use cameras on the bus to fine vehicles in the bus stops or bus lanes. Work with app providers like Google to improve accuracy of bus information (it would be nice to know how many cycle racks are in use)
Going first for the new National Ticketing System will be a challenge with an inevitable raft of teething problems. Don’t skimp on communication, training and empathy for staff and users as everyone gets used to the new system. Give staff the power and confidence to be flexible, particularly in the short term. Be quick to acknowledge problems and what is being done to try to resolve them.
Progressively roll out wifi on all buses to encourage patronage.
Retain the after 9.00am through until end of service Gold Card fares. This concession has had a very positive impact on older users.
It should be easy for a tourist to buy a bus card at the airport, port or information centre, and at the end of their holiday be encouraged to deposit the card into a receptacle, with any additional amount on the card donated to local charities and the card being recycled.

Fee and Charges schedule

Yes, agree with the proposed changes

Uniform Annual General Charge / Uniform Annual Charge

Agree with Council’s preferred option

Thank you for the opportunity to submit on the ECAN Long Term Plan.

Spokes would like the opportunity to speak to our submission

Spokes Canterbury
14/4/24