Comments on: First Look: Ilam Road Cycleway

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 00:33:13 +0000

The kerb is a big problem on uni side , broken in places , council bin in the way and cars in the way too sometimes not to talk about glass etc. with no were to go to if a hazard is in the way.
Like today when a buss slowed down a Montana ave , I forgot about and did not see the last kerb ( as not very visible at 7am ). pulled out to go pass the buss like on all cycle lanes you would do. And as you are waiting for me to say hit the kerb ,over I went . I’m injured all down one side now and bike few Hundred dollars damage to my road bike . lucky no cars were flowing the bus.
I know what they were trying to do , but it dose not work the way they have designed it in places
The buss stop areas , to maintenance cleaning cycle lane etc . The car drivers feel the same way.
This road now has more Accidents than it every did !!!

By: Peter A

Peter A — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 05:50:45 +0000

Had a “what was he thinking” moment when I saw a car parked just south of Creyke Rd intersection, straddling the footpath and bike path.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 04:13:15 +0000

Right idea but it looks a bit messy and has taken far, far too long to get in place. The raised physical divide between cars and the cycleway doesn’t look very easy to see – grey on grey. The cycle path itself seems to have discarded concrete dust and paint still everywhere. Ideally it would be clearly marked in one color and leveled. The bus bypass looks a bit scary as this bus stop often has a lot of people waiting at it and you can’t easily see around or through it because of the advertising. Don’t get me wrong. This is definitely a massive improvement but I am a little disappointed that (a) this has taken so long to get in place (b) it is only such a small section of road (c) that it still looks a bit half done.

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 10:09:36 +0000

Max:

Kerb to kerb is just around 1.8m when I measured. The physical useable space is a lot less due to drain crates, debri and proximity to the dividers.

I personally don’t feel like there is enough space for cyclist to cyclist passing. Unless you are passing a courteous cyclist who moved to one side to let you pass, even then depends on skill level, some people might still find that challenging.

The gap between the dividers varies depends on which section of the road you are travelling on, but at cruising speed of 25km/h, it would be difficult to fit through the gap to the road and come back. Although a skilled bunny-hop can solve that problem.

I’m not a fan of those concrete dividers. Europe have much better examples of dividers.

By: Lennyboy

Lennyboy — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 12:32:36 +0000

In reply to Max. Max, I'll see if I can get out the measuring wheel and get some numbers back to you.

By: Max

Max — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:42:28 +0000

Say, does anyone know the exact width between the kerb and the concrete block dividers (i.e. at the image subtitled “North Ilam Field pedestrian crossing (yes, bikes have to stop for peds too”).

Here in Auckland, we are increasingly discussing such separated paths as well, and one of the queries is how wide the separated path needs to be to allow cyclist-cyclist overtaking.

So my questions would be, in a nutshell:

– how wide is the physical space
– is it wide enough to reasonably comfortably overtake cyclist-cyclist?
– how wide is the lengthwise gap between the dividers, and is it wide enough for overtaking cyclists to quickly dip in and out of the through (car) lane?

With greetings from envious Cycle Action Auckland!

Max

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 05:05:00 +0000

I’m nervous about the tiny concrete curbs on the university side of the road. I can almost see a driver rip their left front wheel out at night.
Also, I wonder how they are going to maintain the cycleway from broken glass and debri as the cleaning truck won’t be able to clean between the 2 curbs.

Otherwise, very cool :D, I use it everyday riding to work.

By: Max

Max — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 02:03:21 +0000

Looks great! We have some similar things done with triangle Road in Auckland, but ours was a belated retrofit to discourge motorists from queueing in a cycle lane. Getting it right from the start like this is much better!

By: Malc

Malc — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 04:04:38 +0000

Looks amazing! Wish I was back at uni so I could use it 🙂
Chch is leading the way when it comes to cycle infrastructure

By: Ants Field

Ants Field — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 00:53:10 +0000

Awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m really pleased we are starting to see some decent, safe cycle lanes appearing in Christchurch. Well done CCC and to all those who over the years have pushed so hard for this to happen.