Memorial Avenue Bicycle Tracks Decision Endorsed

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28457, 11 December 1957, Page 12

Memorial Avenue Bicycle Tracks Decision Endorsed

The decision of the Burnside Memorial Avenue Committee that no provision be made for cycle tracks on the memorial road will stand, in spite of representations made by several Christchurch organisations.

At its meeting yesterday the committee considered a report from Royds and Sutherland, consulting engineers, for the road, and decided that provision of a special track was neither justified nor practicable.

The report, which was presented by Mr N. S. Sutherland, said that although there was no doubt that separate cycle tracks were desirable, they would mean greater width of reserve and increased cost. Within the available width they were not practicable without restricting parking or overtaking, or detracting from the appearance of the avenue.

The maximum density on the road was 220 vehicles an hour, according to figures obtained from the Transport Department some time ago, said Mr Sutherland. The maximum density at the inter- ■ section of Colombo street and Moorhouse avenue, on the other hand, was about 2000 vehicles an hour. Colombo street had 46 feet of carriageway, while the first mile of the memorial avenue, with the greatest traffic density, had 50 feet. Representations “We cannot overlook the representations of the Automobile Association, the Christchurch Metropolitan Safety Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council,’’ said Mr F. W. Freeman, chairman of the Heathcote County Council. “There should not be a raised reserve for cyclists, but we should have enough room for a cycle track, since the cyclists will want it at one time or another.’’ “This is a memorial avenue,’’ said the chairman (Mr W. W. Laing). “If we did away with the median strip and the trees, it would not be an avenue at all. It is not a motorway or a speedway; it is a rural road and the people who use it must be able to get into their homes. If we make it any. narrower, it will be dangerous for those who are using it. As far as I am concerned I am not prepared to have the road spoiled by cyclists.’’

“We should be a little realistic and practical over this,’’ said the Mayor of Riccarton, Mr E. J. Bradshaw. “At a considerable public expenditure we are providing a very wide carriage-way, which should be adequate provision for all types of road users. It should be more adequate than any other carriage-way in this area for the use it will get.” Danger Raised cycle tracks of any type would be dangerous, said Cr. W. P. Glue. If the road were so narrow that there might be a danger from having cyclists on it, tracks might have to be provided; but

there was no danger on Colombo street and Fendalton road, which were narrower and carried much heavier traffic.

“My idea was not for a raised track, but to take two feet off the median strip on both sides to give room for the cyclists,” said Mr Freeman.

“The dual carriage-way, with 30 feet on each section, will have a terrific capacity,” said the City Engineer (Mr E. Somers). “The present road to Harewood is only 20 feet wide, and many of our main roads are not much bigger. I would like to think that the rest of our main outlets had the capacity that this road will have.” “It would be grossly unfair to the residents if they were unable to park outside their properties,” said Mr A. R. Blank, representing the Waimairi County Council. “We must act on the advice of our engineers, and they say the cycle tracks would spoil the idea of a memorial avenue.” The committee decided that their previous action would stand, and no special cycle tracks would be put on the road.