Comments on: Do cycleways = extravagance?

By: Frey Karts

Frey Karts — Fri, 28 May 2021 03:36:26 +0000

Biking is life!

By: Transport news this week – M28 A31

Transport news this week – M28 A31 — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 23:20:07 +0000

[…] when you build cycleways, people will start to cycle! Cycling Christchurch has done a very good reply to the online commenters, and so I won’t spend the time to do so […]

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 21:50:52 +0000

Basil , take a look at the Major Cycleway map ( google CCC major cycleway ) . A route to New Brighton is certainly on the ‘ to do ‘ list and should be operational in the next five years or so. The cycleway programme is absolutely huge for a city of our size and there is no way it could be implemented overnight. The routes are rolled out in terms of a priority of need , with the idea of favouring the important commuter routes. In the meantime you can ride a bike pretty easily to New Brighton using the track built alongside the Avon River from Avonside Drive to the Estuary. Enjoy.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 20:38:42 +0000

In reply to Basil. How many houses do you own? What proportion are located on cycleways? You must be very rich if that makes up a statistically meaningful sample. By the way, a study in Sydney found that properties on, or near, a street where a cycleway and traffic calming was added increased in value by about 10% compared to the general area.

By: Basil

Basil — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 10:08:00 +0000

Maybe if they had built a cycle way along the river out to beach we all could have enjoyed it.But they didn’t.
I am having trouble renting houses on cycle ways. My tenants like visitors and service providers to have access to their properties and pick units elsewhere. A lot of people are making a big sacrifice for the very few. What gets me is that despite all the complaints it will be years and thousands of dollars before we will stop building and start dismantling them. Millions of dollars wasted. Businesses down sized and relocated. accidents frustration and anger, all because our council would rather wait till they are voted out of office than risk admitting they have got it wrong.
I guess that’s democracy
One car families are a thing of the past, now even school children have cars. The future what ever it is will not be cycles.

By: Paddy

Paddy — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 01:39:07 +0000

I think a major issue that ICycletoworkbutimnotacyclist points out, that I have noticed, is that the design has skipped quite a few chapters of the “How to Improve Cycle Numbers in Your City” handbook.
I use the new cycle ways every day, and I think they are mostly excellent, but the one part that has been left out in this transition is the educational campaign for motorists. Often motorists are confused (yes, some are lost causes who are just stealing our air, and are never going to get the chip off their shoulder) as to what to do when they encounter a bike lane, other times they just turn left without looking (as happened to me on a fateful afternoon last September), or they run a red arrow because they didn’t realise a new cycle-priority light had been installed.
People have been driving in the same car-centric way on the same car-centric roads for years, and suddenly they have been changed to bring bikes into the picture, and motorists start freaking out because they don’t know what to do. Historically, CCC has done some very weak cycle safety advertising, such as “See the person, share the road”. It needs a focused, hard-hitting advertising campaign aimed at places where people have to see/hear them, such as radio or, preferably TV. Social media doesn’t work for this because the only people who will click on the link are those in favour of, or those totally opposed to, cycleways.
The only other option is to learn by experience, and (although that woman will definitely check over her left shoulder next time) I can tell you first-hand, it’s pretty painful.

Otherwise, I think it’s an absolutely fantastic system, and seeing the peloton roll off at the traffic lights on Antigua Street at 5pm on a weekday makes me really happy.

By: ICycletoworkbutimnotacyclist

ICycletoworkbutimnotacyclist — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 21:27:45 +0000

There is floating around the internet the story of how Amsterdam changed from being car dominant to cycle led.
I Can’t help but think that much of the angst created here in Christchurch (and other cities in NZ?) is that designers have leapt to the last chapter, and not read the story.
It has a taken a generation for change to be ingrained. Yes there was a few sweeping changes, but most was incremental.
Perhaps, if the designers adopted a more incremental approach, particularly outside the city centre, there would be less antagonism?

By: Cyclomaniac

Cyclomaniac — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 08:33:13 +0000

I see it as a lot of noise (bread and butter of the press and facebook perhaps). Noise can be damaging though but unless you can battle it with facts (I can see real value in publishing live cycling stats), you are probably best to ignore it and get it on with the cause. Any new person on the saddle is a potential ambassador for cycling. To me there is no doubt that Christchurch has become more bike friendly over the past few years. There are more people cycling because the infrastructure is improving. But there is still heaps to do, there are many streets which are not bike friendly at all and many parents still think the streets are too dangerous for their kids to cycle on. At the moment I am reading the highky recommended “The Big Smoke” (www.bwb.co.nz/books/big-smoke) which explains the story of our urban centres. One chapter highlights the introduction of the motorcar and explains that the first motorists were not regarded very favorably in New Zealand. It took years to shift this general perception and when motorists finally acquired their status of ‘king of the roads’, it killed the streets as pedestrians, riders, hawkers and orators had to make way for cars. There are many people who acknowledge that driving is not the only answer. Pre-quake Christchurch was optimised for driving but was struggling regardless. In Auckland billions have been spent on motorways but it still seen as a very congested city. There is a undeniable mood for change but for many people it will not happen overnight. But a new well designed cycleway in their neighbourhood or a close mate, nephew, colleague, son or daughter who takes up cycling might make all the difference. If you build it, they will come still applies…

By: Helene

Helene — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 09:00:38 +0000

In reply to I love my e-Bike. Dont give up the biking! Its a pure joy to get around the inner city on an ebike.. faster than a car, usually easier to find a park. Forever hopefull that the minority anti cycling drivers will see the light... or at least stay out of the cycle lane.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 08:25:52 +0000

I think you just need to look past the vocal minority who have nothing better but to hang out on facebook and stuff all day. In reality most people do not mind the cycleways, even if they dont use them.

The truth and facts are just inconvenience for this grumpy minority, who conveniently ignore the cost of roads and parking in general. Maybe they should actually get off the couch jump on a bike and give it a go! In a few years it will all be done and the fuss will be gone.

Love your work on this blog guys, especially the recent post with the guy counting the bikes. So interesting and useful.