Yes….but when drivers slow down during peak hours how many cyclists would still feel comfortable taking the lane? It is not my sense of adventure..

For me, if a six year or seventy year old or a person with slight disabilities would not be able or feel confident to ride a bike somewhere it does not classify as cycling infrastructure. Central and local government should come to the table and come up with a plan that enables tourists and locals to cross the Waimak safely by bike or foot.

John – the old Waimak bridge should be crossed "as fast as you can" to minimise your exposure.

Plus its a good sprint!

At peak hours vehicles will be a lot slower than cyclists & as the other poster has said just take the lane as you have right of way over a vehicle anyway.

Perhaps signs on the Old Waimak Bridge reminding vehicles that they have to give way to cyclists. I go over the bridge in my car once a week & if there is a cyclist on it I put on my hazard lights so that traffic behind perhaps will realise why I driving slow. Of course if there is no traffic coming towards me I will pass the cyclist.

John, that’s pretty much it at present; you have to take the lane to encourage motor vehs to overtake you in the opposing lane. That’s why access across the Waimak has been a bugbear for years and why generally only the “strong and fearless” will usually do it.

Compare the metre or two of sealed shoulder on most of Lineside Road to the 10 cm of sealed shoulder on every other road., like Flaxton or Tuahiwi Road.

The one big enabler would be better safety across the Waimakariri. There are four bridges, one of which is reserved for Rail, and one is SH1 a. That leaves two usable bridges, one at the Gorge and the Old Waimak Bridge. And while the gorge bridge is a nice day out, its a bit far for the daily commute.

How about
* Adding a cycle lane cantilevered out on either side of the old waimak road bridge. Could do just one side, but if both sides then bikes won’t need to cross the car traffic at both ends.

* What about signalising on the rail bridge? A 5 (?) minute signal to clear the bridge should be enough, its no more complex than normal rail crossing signals. And there’s only what – three trains a day now? The bridge would need surfacing for wheeled traffic, and possibly a middle bay for those who are slow (or foolhardy) This also means getting the cycle traffic to the rail bridge.