Tauranga City Council has admitted a cycle lane on Totara St is unsafe but its advice to cyclists, for now, is to be seen.

Acting transportation manager Phil Consedine said ideally the cycle lane on Totara St would have an absolute minimum width of between 1.5 and 1.8 metres.

The New Zealand Transport Agency states on its website the width of cycle lanes can vary but the absolute minimum width should be 1.4m wide.

“And should only be used in low-speed environments, and only along very short sections of the road, say less than 100 metres,” the website states.

It is understood the cycle lane is less than 1.5m wide.

Consedine said the minimum width was “obviously not possible” on the existing road due to the current width restrictions.

“We acknowledge the challenges for people biking with limited roads available to provide alternative access from Mauao to the CBD.”

However, he said before the council could start any work on new or upgraded cycleways in the area, it was important he ensured the right outcome for all users of Totara St.

“In the meantime, we advise people on bikes to make sure they are seen, for example, by wearing hi-vis clothing and by using lights.”

In the area, where a large number of heavy vehicles exist, Consedine believed an additional buffer between heavy vehicles and people on bikes would be far more important.

“It is also important to note it is not only the width that requires consideration, heavy vehicles turning left have limited visibility of people biking and hence any design of a new road layout requires this to be taken into consideration.”

He said Totara St required a solution which considers the wider transport network in managing freight and heavy vehicle operations, car travel, bike travel and railway operations.

However, none of those could be considered in isolation.

“It is also vital that impacts on local businesses, commercial operations and safety are considered hand in hand with any proposals.

“The Urban Form and Transport Initiative will consider Totara St as part of the wider transport network and growth to ensure an optimum solution is delivered.”

Source : https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=12241589

Council admits cycle lane width unsafe

Cyclists are concerned about the width of the cycle lane on a key commuter’s route between Mount Maunganui and Tauranga.

Bike Tauranga affiliate Shane Plummer says the Totara Street cycle lane is a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’. He points out that the width of the current cycle lane does not meet New Zealand Transport Agency best practice guidelines.

The Totara St cycle lane varies from 1.2m to 1.5m in width, and the road speed limit is 60 km/h.

NZTA best practice guidelines state that the desirable minimum width for a cycle lane next to kerb edge varies between 1.6m and 2.5m.

NZTA states that the desirable minimum width for a cycle lane next to kerb edge on a road with a 60km/hour speed limit is 1.75m.

Tauranga City Council acting manager of transportation Phil Consedine says current cycle lane width is less than desirable for an on-road cycle lane and does not offer people on bikes adequate protection from traffic.

“Overall, Totara St is not considered ‘fit for purpose’ or adequately safe for people on bikes which presents a risk of this road, seeing it currently is being used as a route for people on bikes.

“Ideally, the cycle lane on Totara St would be between 1.5 and 1.8 metres wide. Obviously, that is not possible on the existing road due to the current width restrictions.”

ViaStrada senior transportation engineer and transportation planner Glen Koorey says the existing cycle lane width is not sufficient due to the heavy vehicle traffic and high speed limit of Totara St.

“1.2m that’s really at the minimum for a cycle lane, and you might get away with it on a quiet 50 km/h road. It’s not going to work on Totara St.”

ViaStrada senior transportation engineer and transportation planner Axel Wilke, who reviewed the Totara St project on behalf of Tauranga City Council, also raises the issue of turning traffic being the biggest danger to people cycling.

“Those truck drivers they can’t see a thing when they turn left into a driveway and that is the real danger for cyclists along Totara St.”

Glen and Axel both agree that the council’s proposed shared path along the east side of Totara St would resolve issues around the current road layout.

Tauranga City Council has halted the Totara Street Improvement project, which proposed the shared path for cyclists, while Urban Form and Transport Initiative considers the street as part of the wider transport network.

 “People will use the existing cycle lane because they think it’s the only choice they have, and it’s certainly not fit for purpose.

“When you build a decent shared path you provide good width, good sight lines and you can deal with what happens at the intersections,” says Glen.

Source Posted: 11:45am Monday 17 Jun, 2019 | By Emma Houpt emma@thesun.co.nz
https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/212092-council-admits-cycle-lane-width-unsafe.html

Mount Maunganui resident Marion Vialle cycles down Totara St on her daily commute (note, she has a flashing light on the back of her bike).

Hundreds of cyclists are putting their lives on the line to get from Mount Maunganui to Tauranga each week.

These cyclists will now have to wait longer for a safe access route after the Tauranga City Council postponed a key project to consider how to manage wider transport plans on Totara St.

Cyclist Nick Roozenburg describes Totara St as an ‘absolute deathtrap for the inexperienced.’

“That road is just too dangerous for people to try cycling. If you are one of those people who would like to give commuter cycling a go, Totara St would just put you off forever.”

Tauranga City Council strategy and growth manager Christine Jones says it’s important to pause the project, while Urban Form and Transport Initiative considers Totara St as part of the wider transport network.

She says UFTI will develop a plan based around the way Tauranga will grow. It will cover short-term urgent fixes as well as multi-decade planning.

“Totara St requires a solution that considers the wider transport network in managing freight and heavy vehicle operations, car travel, bike travel and railway operations.”

Totara Street is a nationally strategic corridor that plays a key role in serving port traffic, Christine says.

“Growth will continue to add additional pressure on this corridor with the Port of Tauranga expanding its capacity and maximising productivity.”

Bike Tauranga chairman Kevin Kerr says the cycleway has been put aside because Port of Tauranga and Kiwi Rail think that more consultation needs to happen on how Totara St is going to look for the next 20 to 30 years. He understands that and agrees that more consultation is required.

“Bike Tauranga and Greater Tauranga need to be around the table with Council, Port of Tauranga and Kiwi Rail understanding what their needs are, but they also need to understand what the needs of the community are,” he says.

Totara St is identified as a primary cycling route connecting Mt Maunganui and the CBD. The route is used by an average of 1427 commuting and recreational cyclists per week.

About 64 per cent of cyclists accessing Tauranga Harbour Bridge to and from Tauranga City Centre use Totara Street.

Bike Tauranga affiliate Shane Plummer is concerned about the size of the existing cycleway on Totara St.

“There’s no way for bicycle commuters to get to Mt Maunganui without having to use a dodgy bike lane that’s seriously dangerous. Vehicles are passing cyclists on very limited space,”

“The cycleway desperately needs to be improved for cycling because it’s a key route for cycling between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.”

Mount Maunganui resident Marion Vialle cycles on Totara St every weekday.

“On the bridge, it is quite safe because there is separation, but on Totara St, I do not feel safe at all.”

Sustainable Business Network BOP regional manager Glen Crowther says they support the council’s approach and will push for a safe cycleway option to be implemented as soon as possible.

Source :
https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/210436-halted-projects-means-greater-risk-cyclists.html
Posted: 2:17pm Friday 31 May, 2019 | By Emma Houpt emma@thesun.co.nz

Tauranga has been split into 10 areas for cycleway improvements, with the areas in light green excluded from planning. Schools are marked with black dots. Graphic / Tauranga City Council

John Cousins

By: John CousinsJohn is a senior reporter at the Bay of Plenty Timesjohn.cousins@nzme.co.nz@ Bay_Times

Three areas of Tauranga will be the big winners from a plan to spend $24 million over the next 10 years improving the city’s network of cycleways.

The council’s Tauranga Cycle Plan has split the city into 10 areas, with most of the $12m earmarked to be spent over the next three years targeting the area covering Mount Maunganui to Arataki.

Tauranga’s cycle plan was unveiled yesterday at the council’s transport committee, with the two other priorities for the next 10 years spanning the CBD to Greerton and the Bellevue/Matua/Otumoetai area.

The plan aimed to encourage more people onto bikes and reduce the numbers driving to work and school.

Making Tauranga safer and more accessible for people on bikes has been welcomed by Sustainable Business Network Bay of Plenty regional manager Glen Crowther who attended yesterday’s meeting.

Interviewed afterwards, he said the amount to be spent on consultation and construction would be a significant boost to the local economy.

”We think spending on cycleways was a really good thing because ultimately you get a lot more bang for your buck than building more roads.”

He said building a two-way cycleway was a fifth to a tenth of the price per kilometre than a council road, and finding places near schools to roll them out was the best way to get value for money.

Crowther said it would be good if the money was recirculated in the region, rather than the contracts being let to companies outside the Bay. Ideally, the procurement process should if possible benefit local people and local workers at all stages of design and construction.

He said if the council did not get people out of their cars soon, it would miss out on excellent opportunities being offered by the new Government whose focus was to invest in public transport and multi-modal transportation systems.

”All the ducks are lined up.”

Improving Tauranga’s transportation infrastructure was the No 1 issue facing the city, and if the city did not get onto the solutions quickly things would get even worse, he warned.

The surprise for him in the plan was how a big chunk of the money for the first few years was going to the Mount area.

”The issue is that whatever the amount, should it really be going for the first six years primarily to the Mount – or should it be spread around.”

The council’s rationale was to link up as many cycleways as possible in each area, before moving on to another.

”But seven of the 10 areas would not get anything much for 10 years,” he said.

Cycleways connecting the Mount, Omanu and Arataki have been prioritised for investigation, design and construction for the next three years, with construction spilling over into the following three years starting 2021.

The investigation and design phase for the CBD to Greerton cycleways was proposed to take place over a similar timeframe, but construction would not begin until the three years commencing 2021 and finish in 2027-30.

Construction of the Bellevue, Matua and Otumoetai cycleways would span the three years starting 2024 and extend into the next three years starting 2027.

The cycleways for Bethlehem and Judea, and the Welcome Bay/Ohauiti/Maungatapu area would be built during the six years starting 2030. Cycleways construction for Papamoa, Tauriko and Pyes Pa would fall further out in the implementation plan.

Separately funded standalone projects with cycling benefits, proposed to start in the next three years, including upgrading Totara St, the Mount North one-way system and the Marine Parade boardwalk extension. Others were the Maunganui Rd cycleway, upgrading Wairakei Reserve, the Domain Rd upgrade, the Memorial Park to Strand boardwalk, 15th Ave corridor improvements, Bellevue access improvements, the Ngati Rd cycleway, cycling and pedestrian overbridges across SH36 and Route K, and the cycle bridge over the Wairoa River.

The $24m proposed to be spent on cycling for the next 10 years goes out for consultation as part of the council’s Long Term Plan.

Key statistics impacting on the uptake of cycling in Tauranga
– 59 per cent of adults think it is not safe or easy to cycle in the city.
– 46 per cent of young people think it is not safe or easy to cycle in the city.
– 64 per cent of people said they would ride their bikes with the right improvements.
– A third of people ride bikes, but 1per cent to 3 per cent currently ride to work.
Source: Tauranga City Council

Cyclist Nick Roozenburg is happy the council has finally approved consent for the Wairoa Bridge cycleway. Photo / Andrew Warner

Zoe Hunter

By: Zoe HunterZoe is a reporter at the Bay of Plenty Timeszoe.hunter@nzme.co.nz@ Bay_Times

A “crucial” $5.2 million cycle bridge has been approved as part of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway.

Priority One’s latest figures show the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has issued a $5.2 million building consent for the clip-on cycle bridge over State Highway 2 at Te Puna.

The NZ Transport Agency confirmed the consent was for the Wairoa River bridge crossing, which was a key part of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway project.

The 19km-route will provide a link between Ōmokoroa and Tauranga City’s existing urban cycleway network for a safer alternative to the existing state highway corridor.

Plans to construct the cycle bridge were shelved in 2017 after the council deemed the project, which had an original estimated cost of $6.5m, no longer feasible due to higher than expected costs.

Western Bay District Council group manager of infrastructure services Gary 
Allis said the cycle trail to the Wairoa Bridge section will be on the river side of Te Puna Station Rd and travel under the rail bridge.

“It is expected to be a hub or a commencing point for the cycleway for recreational cyclists and for walkers accessing the riverside walkway,” he said.

Allis said the total cost of the $5.2m cycle bridge will include future proofing the new 140m cycleway bridge for a “second add-on”.

“Initially there will be only one side of the bridge with a cycleway,” he said. “Bridges of this nature are expensive.”

The gravel car park, cycle trail and initial plans were hoped to begin in the first quarter of 2019.

Allis said the council would release concept plans – being developed with Pirirakau hapu – for the bridge once they were put out for tender, which was expected to be soon.

Bike Tauranga chairman Kevin Kerr said the group had been advocating for the completion of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway for the last six months.

“It is a crucial link between the city,” he said. “Without that clip-on or getting cyclists safely across the bridge the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga link is really a waste of time because people can’t get across the bridge.”

Kerr said it was now up to the Tauranga City Council to “step up” and complete their end of the bargain by completing the cycleway from the bridge into the city.

Glen Crowther of the Sustainable Business Network supported the district council’s cycling initiatives.

“We think it is great they are giving an opportunity for people in that area to access places safely on a bike,” he said.

“The key thing is if it is a success, it will rely on the final link up through to the city.”

He understood the bridge crossing was always going to be the most expensive part of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga route, but said the new $5.2m cost was “more realistic”.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec said the cycle bridge over the Wairoa River was what Tauranga needed.

“While better roads will always be a strong priority, we also need to encourage other modes of transport and cycling is an obvious one,” he said.

“Having a dedicated cycleway through Te Puna will also encourage more recreational cycling, and that can only be a good thing.”

Priority One projects manager Annie Hill said the new cycle bridge will be a great addition to the amenities of the area.

“Te Puna is an important community node in the Western Bay which will experience growth in the future,” she said.

Hill said cyclists should be able to cross the busy highway safely and the new cycleway was likely to encourage more people to consider alternative modes of transport.

Tauranga City Council transportation manager Martin Parkes said the council was working closely with the district council to complete cycleway.

“Tauranga City Council is committed to ensuring that the new cycleway links into the wider urban cycle network in the city,” he said.

A map of the proposed Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway. Photo / Western Bay of Plenty District Council
A map of the proposed Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway. Photo / Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway

– 19km link between Ōmokoroa and Tauranga City’s existing urban cycleway network

– Expected to attract 130-200 commuter cyclists a day, with a higher estimate for recreational users

– The trail is split into many stages with construction well underway

– The Wairoa River bridge crossing will now be a “clip-on” structure to the state highway bridge

– Estimated cost is $13m

– Funding is between NZ Transport Agency, Western Bay Council and Tauranga City Council – with additional community and third-party contributions including a $1million grant from TECT

Source: Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Bike Tauranga’s Andrew Thorp with keen cyclists from left : Alec Newington, Friederike Von Bultzingslowen and Zykyia Peka checking out the Pedal Party event riding routes.

Hop on you bike and join the party this Sunday.

The Bike Tauranga Pedal Party is on for newcomers and experienced cyclists.

It’s being held in conjunction with Sport Bay of Plenty.

One of the organisers Duncan Newington says it’s a community pedal power event celebrating the formation of the Bike Tauranga Advocacy Group.

“The aim is to promote cycling for health, fitness, and wellbeing and to show community support for the Tauranga City Council Cycle Plan and the recently completed K Valley cycleways,” says Duncan.

“There’s a pedal powered fun ride for everyone including families and individual riders.

“There’s three great and safe cycle routes designed to cater for all ages and abilities from striders to seniors.

“Two of the three routes take in the new K-Valley Cycle Bridge and BMX Park and the third beginners route, is a comfortable easy loop circuit along and around the Kopurererua Stream area.

“All routes are safe off road cycle paths in the Kopurererua Valley (K-Valley) cycling recreational playground with the start and finish of all the rides being at the 17th Ave Skate Park Reserve.

“Ride Safety Marshals will be cycling with participants ensuring the smooth running of the event and there will be an optional pre-ride Bike and Helmet check available.

“Other activities planned are, BMX display at the BMX Park, Lex Spencer’s famous crazy bikes, bike shop tents, food and (non alchoholic) drink vending.

What to bring: Bicycle and helmet, sunscreen, suitable footwear. We recommend participants bring water on the ride to avoid dehydration.

The event is open to anyone who can ride a pedal powered vehicle including e-bikes. All routes are on mostly flat cycle paths but the Intermediate and Advanced course will cross the elevated K-Valley Cycle Bridge

Participants are encouraged to cycle to the event from their home locations if fitness, competence, and road route safety to the event can be safely cycled.

There will also be plenty of parking available in proximity to the event start/finish area for participants needing to transport their bikes to the event.

Registration is required and can be done on the day from 9 to 9:40am.

Bike Mount's Heidi Hughes launched a peitition to keep the Bayfair underpass for cyclists. NZTA have just confirmed good news for her and other cyclists. Photo / file
Bike Mount’s Heidi Hughes launched a peitition to keep the Bayfair underpass for cyclists. NZTA have just confirmed good news for her and other cyclists. Photo / file
Zoe Hunter

By: Zoe HunterZoe is a reporter at the Bay of Plenty Timeszoe.hunter@nzme.co.nz@ Bay_Times

The Baypark to Bayfair Link project will now include a new separated pedestrian and cycle underpass at the Bayfair roundabout.

The NZ Transport Agency has announced the Baypark to Bayfair Link project will provide two options for people walking or cycling to cross the state highway once complete.

What the new separated pedestrian and cycle underpass will look like. Photo/Supplied
What the new separated pedestrian and cycle underpass will look like. Photo/Supplied

People can use the new underpass connecting Matapihi Rd and Bayfair Shopping Centre or cross at ground level through the centre of the new Bayfair roundabout using the pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights.

The initial cost for the underpass was estimated to be $13 million, with the final cost to be determined once the detailed design is complete. Tauranga City Council will also contribute to the underpass.ADVERTISEMENT

NZTA Project Team Manager John McCarthy said a detailed design process needed to be complete before construction of the new underpass begins.

“But we intend to integrate the new underpass with the current project,” he said.

The new underpass will be constructed alongside the old underpass allowing a safe route throughout the project.

Once the underpass is operational the old underpass will be infilled to accommodate the weight of the new Bayfair flyover approach ramps.

The current underpass will be closed permanently as part of the Bay Link project.

Cycle advocates are pleased with NZTA's decision to have a separated cycle and pedestrian underpass. Photo/Supplied
Cycle advocates are pleased with NZTA’s decision to have a separated cycle and pedestrian underpass. Photo/Supplied

McCarthy said, on average more than 500 people used the underpass each day, and the number of cyclists using the underpass in the past seven years has tripled – a trend that was likely to increase.

“Shopping areas on both sides of the state highway at Bayfair and Owens Place are increasing, and higher density residential developments in the area will see more people living in this area and wanting to cross the state highway,” he said.

McCarthy said the new underpass aligned with the wider Tauranga Transport Programme and Tauranga City Council’s Tauranga Cycle Action Plan, seeking to encourage people out of their cars and enable them to make safe and healthy travel choices.

“We are working with city and regional councils and are making good progress on public transport options in this area and the SH2 Maunganui Rd corridor, as part of the Public Transport Blueprint and the Tauranga Transport Plan.”

Tauranga City Council Transport Committee chair Rick Curach acknowledged the dedication of those who campaigned for the underpass to remain.

“It’s reassuring to see decisive action in response to the public voice, and to see the Transport Agency adapting their project to make it safer and easier for more people to travel through this area,” he said.

Cycle advocacy group Bike Tauranga chairman Kevin Kerr was pleased with the news and acknowledged the community in the agency’s decision.

“The community has pushed and pushed to have an underpass option in the Bay Link project, and it’s great that they have been listened to,” he said.

Sustainable Business Network Bay of Plenty regional manager Glen Crowther believed the right decision had been made.

“If you have got something that is working and hundreds of people use it and that number is only going to increase, it seems retrograde to take it away and not replace it,” he said.

Crowther said the new development at Owens Place meant more people would use the underpass to cross the highway to get to Bayfair.

He said it was critical to have a safe way of crossing the road if the main highway for the cycle network would come from Girven Rd and down Mataphi.

“It is going to turn into such a key cycle route,” he said. “It is good to see when these projects are reassessed we end up with a good result for the community.”

Crowther said the waiting game was now on including a bus priority lane.

Mount Maunganui cyclist Jo Wills said the separated pedestrian and cycle underpass was fantastic.

“It is a completely car free path through a really busy roundabout,” she said. “It means our cycle route is continued, which is what we want.”

Wills said she sometimes used the current underpass to get to work from the Mount to Tauranga, while her partner used it every day.

“If the underpass wasn’t there I would not go that way into town,” she said. “It keeps that option opened up for me.”

Facts and figures
– The number of pedestrians, cyclists, mobility and people with prams/pushchairs using the underpass in 2017 has doubled since 2011.
– More than 141,000 pedestrians used the underpass in 2017 – 72 per cent more than the 82,000 in 2011
– The number of cyclists has tripled – from 14,000 in 2011 to 44,000 cyclists in 2017.
– The Baypark to Bayfair Link is designed to separate local and state highway traffic, improving safety and access, and walking and cycling connections
– Key features include the construction of two flyovers and improvements to the SH29A and Truman Lane roundabout, and the Bayfair roundabout.

Karen Hay of Tauranga City Council and Kevin Kerr of Bike Tauranga on Ngatai Rd, soon to be transformed by a separated by-directional cycleway. Photo/John Borren
Karen Hay of Tauranga City Council and Kevin Kerr of Bike Tauranga on Ngatai Rd, soon to be transformed by a separated by-directional cycleway. Photo/John Borren
Samantha Motion

By: Samantha MotionSamantha is a senior reporter at the Bay of Plenty Timessamantha.motion@nzme.co.nz@ Bay_Times

Tauranga’s cycling lobby has been strengthened with the formation of an independent city-wide advocacy group, Bike Tauranga.

Bike Tauranga chairman, business owner Kevin Kerr, said the group aimed to work alongside local transport authorities to promote cycling and make it safer and more convenient in the city – outcomes he said would benefit all road users.

“Every bike on the road is one less car.”

Kerr said the idea for the group began in 2015 when the city’s cycling community rallied against Tauranga City Council’s decision not to help fund the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway. The council later bowed to public pressure and agreed to help fund the project.ADVERTISEMENT

Protest movement conception aside, Kerr said Bike Tauranga wanted to be a proactive group working in positive partnerships with the council and the NZ Transport Agency, rather than a reactive group.

He said they wanted to get involved in the planning stages of projects to promote quality design and the integration of cycling infrastructure with other modes of transport.

Their involvement could help prevent repeats of costly issues such as those identified with the new cycleways created for the Maungatapu underpass.

Kerr said despite recent progress, including the allocation of up to $100 million in transportation funding to cycling projects in Tauranga over the next decade, cyclists were still a minority transport user group and needed to work to make sure their voices were heard.

Bike Tauranga will be led by a 10-person committee of volunteers, among them representatives of other community advocacy groups, including Bike Mount and Greater Tauranga.

Others, including schools, individuals and other cycling groups, will soon be able to join for a $10 fee that will help cover operational costs.

Karen Hay, newly appointed implementation manager for Tauranga City Council’s cycling plan, welcomed the creation of the group.

She said the council was focused on providing better transport options – for cyclists, pedestrians, bus users and drivers – and good community engagement was fundamental to ensuring they got it right.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to get some consolidated views on our priorities.”

Councillor Rick Curach, chairman of the council’s transport committee, said the group was “exactly what we need” to help make the cycling plan a success.

Bike Tauranga was affiliated with national lobby group the Cycle Action Network.

Network spokesman Patrick Morgan said it was the first Tauranga-wide group to join the network, and a strong coordinated local voice with the ear of the council had the potential to “make all the difference”.

“For many years Tauranga has been planned around cars. Like all modern cities, that is changing.”

With a compact CBD, parking shortage and mild climate, Tauranga could become one of the best cycling cities in New Zealand, he said.

“More people on bikes will make the city work better for everyone.”