Public support for cycleways main aim

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 4

Public support for cycleways main aim

From 400 to 500 cycleway signs have already been erected along Christchurch streets which form a City Council bicycle rotite network.

Signed routes now stretch down into Spteyddn along several streets, and out into the eastern suburbs. The council’s Traffic Engineer (Mr M. L. Gadd) said that ways to help motorists as well as cyclists get accustomed to cycleways were also being considered.’ ,At the Hatper Avenue cycle crossing in North Hagley park, with traffic signals worked by cyclists and ped* estrians; a sensor device may be placed over the middle Of the road. The device-, would sense whether cyclists or people on foot were using the crossing, and could change the signals earlier for cars Waiting there... “There is some resistance

to the rather long phase at

that crossing" Mr Gadd said. The device could shorten the phase when the crossing was no longer being used. “That might save five or six seconds, maybe more," he said. Public acceptance of the cycleway system could j be improved through suchj measures. ;

If tile signals seemed more logical, the signal system cduld also, be better enforced. ?The widening and resurfacing, of some Hagley Park cycle paths was afeo being planned. Widening was needed most at peak periods on - uhe main path beside Victor* Lake, and the. possible widening was being discussed with the city Council's parks and recreation department Ways to- ease Armagh street constriction wore being studied, improvements along that route could lead to an increase in cfOss-City cycle traffic. 4 - ‘ . 7 •'More use of; cycle routes Would generate a demand for better fadiities, Mr Gadd said. . - L 4 council engineers were -still refining a bicycle deteeaor system at Bin Colombo • Street-Moorhouse Avenue intersection.’ The system holds the green phase longer

if bicycles are using the intersection. If effective, the detector system could be used at other intersections. South from the junction of Oxford Terrace and Antigua Street, where the council has agreed in principle to traffic signals, one of the newly marked routes goes past, the Brougham Street expressway and changes direction into Bletsoe Avenue. One branch goes south in Simeon street, through Sydenham cemetery and down Studholme Street to , Ashgrove TerraceMnd the Heathcote River. It follows the river along Ashgrove Terrace to Ferniehurst Street, then through Woodbank Street and Marley View Street to come out at Centennial Park. A loop can be made by following Lyttelton Street to Wychbury Street, where commuters can turn towards the city centre and link up again at Bletsoe Avenue There are also branches

from the Avonside route north-east Of the city centre. Its marking now start at Manchester Street and Oxford Terrace. It Switches over to Cambridge Terrace at the Barbadoes Street bridge, then crosses Fitzgerald Avenue into Heywood Terrace, Draper Street, and Swanns Road. The route branches at the Avon River, one cycleway going north on Eveleyn Couzins Drive and North Parade, then avoiding heavy traffic by turning right into Banks Avenue and resuming north in Ajax Street and Golf Links Road.

The Avonside route goes east on Retrea Road, along Avonside Drive, through a POrritt Park short cut mid into Avonside Drive again as it follows the river to the Avondale Road bridge. It then goes north on Bassett street and Parnwell Street to reach the Travis Road cycleway to Queen Elizabeth 11 Park. An off-shoot from Avonside Drive goes south on Breezes Road to Pages Road.