Presentation to the

WCC Regulatory Processes Committee

Traffic Resolution 63-23 - Thorndon Connections

Monday 24 April 2023

SITUATION

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Our community understands the concerns about cycling safety �

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• Compared to the rest of the city, the area of Thorndon covered by this TR is safe for cyclists
• Thorndon is not a priority for protected cycleways due to safety
• Focus on other city roads first��
• We do have an issue with pedestrian safety
• made worse by this proposal��
• A clear majority of submitters are telling WCC that what’s proposed in this part of Thorndon is not going to work
• not needed
• not what is wanted ( focused on the wrong problem )

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A safer, nimbler, greener Ride

from

Mulgrave St to Lambton Quay

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400m either way.

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Green is easier for everyone.

https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/thorndon-connections/project-details-2/

It’s all

Downhill

(+ a prevailing tail wind)

… to Thorndon Quay, Bunny St & Featherston St

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Cyclists need LH lane for the schools, summer pool, etc

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Cyclists need RH lane for the Medical Centre, pharmacy, groceries, etc

Murphy St - NW Thorndon driveway

Poor sight lines

• pedestrians obscured from view
• pedestrians can obscure view of cyclists riding near the curb

Challenging intersections

• drivers need pull onto the pavement to observe traffic
• downhill cyclists near the curb are more likely to be obscured
• cycle speeds are difficult to judge
• also an intersection opposite (pool)

Limit the speed to 30kph

Add sharrow markings to support cycling in the lanes (rather than beside the curb)

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https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/thorndon-connections/project-details-2/

Make it safer:

Sharrow markings

Please stop regulating alluring traps that channel vehicles (cycles)

• onto the Left Hand side of buses
• where people and children wait for buses
• where pedestrians disembark from buses

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The design is inherently hazardous.

Well documented overseas.

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The Association asks the Committee not to approve the installation of these traps proposed for the Thorndon Connections

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furthermore

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to initiate a process to remove the hazardous experimental bus platform that is currently causing considerable problems in Tinakori Rd.

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Murphy / Mulgrave

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Cyclists have TWO good reasons to need to use EITHER lanes

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1. RH lane >>> to ride to �St Pauls Shops - Thorndon Medical Centre, Pharmacy, NZ Post Shop, National Library, Justice Centre, Parliament �[ BUT the proposal has NO RH TURN INTO PIPITEA ST !! ]

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• LH lane >>> to ride to

The 3 x schools, Archives NZ, Thorndon Quay, Railway Station, Waterfront, Featherston St

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It’s significant that none of this is on level terrain

• downhill
• prevailing wind is a tail wind

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‘Protected’ cycle lanes are a misnomer. They become dangerously ‘constraining’

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The proposal has a narrow ‘protected’ cycle lane against the RH curb

Murphy St’s gradient fundamentally contributes to it being unsafe to be pace making on two wheels in that position on this street.

Process failure

The entire city was invited to ‘speak’ to this Committee

But no prior consultation on the design details, and viable options, was provided to most affected persons in the area.

https://fyi.org.nz/request/21683/response/82904/attach/2/Thorndon%20Residents%20stakeholder.pdf

https://fyi.org.nz/request/21683-copies-of-bike-network-thorndon-connections-plans-i-e-current-versions-of-the-detailed-layout-drawings#incoming-83599

LGOIMA Seeking evidence of quality of CONSULTATION

Flawed Options Analysis

‘Obvious’ desirable options didn’t even get evaluated by WCC:

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https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/thorndon-connections/the-options-we-considered-2/

Incomplete, out-of-date Road safety and accessibility audit

https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/thorndon-connections/supporting-documents-2/

• It’s a review of the December drawings�
• Report did not even evaluate obvious conflicts �e.g. very complex transitions at the busiest high �use driveways in the entire suburb i.e. �the NW Thorndon supermarket�
• Members feel hoodwinded; the ‘consultation’ is a sham; very poorly executed for the folk/entities impacted most in Our Place … Thorndon.

Impact on Ratepayers

"... when a site gets too difficult (and expensive) to access, we will turn the work down."

A Tradie

This wasn't about terrain per se, it was about curbside parking outside sites.

It was explained that sometimes they (or their clients - ratepayers) have to purchase parking outside their properties for the duration of the project. Apparently the costs imposed by Council can be 'horrendous' (esp. on renovations, home repairs (etc) on a longer timescale.)

( “ it's like paying our rates twice!! ... some might term this usury!” )

More submitters chose not to use this WCC platform with its leading questions & other flaws.

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Pertinent consequences of the proposal were not highlighted.