We’re seeking feedback on a proposed cycleway for Summerhill Drive and part of Aokautere Drive.
A couple of years ago, we installed part of the cycleway between Turitea Road and Springdale Grove. We didn’t finish installing the protection barrier between the cycle lane and the traffic lane, or install all the cycleway near the Turitea Road intersection.
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency has now provided funding to complete the cycleway between Tennent Drive and Pacific Drive, connecting Summerhill and Aokautere with Fitzherbert Bridge and the Manawatū River Pathway.
The agency's Transport Choices programme provides 100% funding for us to complete the cycleway on Summerhill Drive and along Aokautere Drive, from Summerhill to Pacific Drive. It's important to note the section of Aokautere Drive between Old West Road and Pacific Drive is SH56, which is controlled by Waka Kotahi. Any suggestions for pedestrian or other improvements here will be shared with them for consideration.
The funding we’ve received is to complete the cycleway and pedestrian improvements before June 2024 – that gives us about 15 months to get your ideas, design, get your feedback on the design, find a contractor and install the cycleway.
Installing a cycleway is a key requirement to enable our Aokautere urban growth plan.
We want your feedback before we start design
One of the lessons we’ve learnt from some transport projects over the last couple of years, including the portion of Summerhill cycleway, is that we need to get more information from the people who know the street best before we start working on a design.
We have access to data and traffic engineers, and we often hear feedback from the community, but you are the people who know the area best, and we want you to provide information about things that concern you on the street.
Getting your general feedback earlier means we can have a design that best suits the needs of as many people as possible.
Have your say today
This initial round of feedback is open until 5pm on Friday 7 April.
While we've installed the line marking of the cycleway between Turitea Road and Springdale Grove, we're keen to hear your feedback on how that’s been going as a road user, cyclist, resident or business owner.
We want the cycleway to be the same along the whole route, so feedback on what is already in place is really important. We may be able to tweak what’s there, or we may make wholesale changes, creating a best practice cycleway, suitable for bike riders of all ages and abilities.
One of the ideas shared in the original consultation and in comments since is to have a shared pathway along one side of the road. This is one option our traffic engineers and designers can investigate if there’s support from you.
We know you may have seen other examples that you think could also work here. We’re keen to hear all your ideas for this entire stretch of road.
We’re also keen to hear what you think about the other changes we've made, like the new pedestrian crossing points in the middle of Summerhill Drive. Are you using them, and do they work well? As a pedestrian, what are the key things you want to see included in the design for this larger stretch of road? As a motorist, what things matter most to you?
There will be a physical barrier between people on bikes and vehicles
As you know, Summerhill Drive is 60km/hr. We know that speed is a real concern for many of you. We’re continuing to have conversations with Waka Kotahi about the speed on Summerhill Drive and Aokautere Drive.
Due to the speed and the wide variety of vehicles using the road, we know that we will need a protection barrier between bike riders and other traffic. This will likely be concrete, rubber or something similar to a kerb. Have you seen something that you like that you’d like us to consider?
Tell us what you think by 5pm, Friday 7 April.
You’ll hear from us again in winter to show you our proposed design
After getting your feedback, we will begin analysing it and working out what we can incorporate into our design. Then we'll come back and show you our proposed design for your final feedback.
At this stage we intend on doing the construction over summer but that could change, depending on how long it takes us to get your ideas, do more investigations and work on a detailed design. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process.
The project will be completed by the end of June next year.
Why are we building cycleways?
Our Urban Cycle Network Masterplan is about helping Palmy move across the city safely and efficiently.
You’ve probably noticed your daily commute is taking longer than it did a few years ago as our city and region grows.
More people riding bikes makes our city safer, our commutes more efficient, and our community healthier.
More people riding bikes means your commute time won't keep getting longer.
In 2019, when we developed our cycle network masterplan, many people told us they wanted to bike but didn’t feel safe. We're aiming to create a network of streets connected across the city with best practice cycleways, so people are safer sharing the road with motor vehicles.
It’s not until most or all of these are installed in the city that we’d expect to see a large increase in people choosing to ride bikes. We know there can be some limitations to riding bikes, such as dropping kids at school or the weather, but over time we’re hoping people will consider a different choice because they feel safe to do so – even if it’s just a day or two a week.
Biking is great for our physical and mental health, and of course saves money on fuel and the stress of finding parking. It’s also a way we can help our planet by reducing our emissions.
Have your say
Please let us know your thoughts by submitting the online form below before 5pm on Friday 7 April.
Click here to view form.