CYCLE PATHS

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 May 1901, Page 579

CYCLE PATHS

By P. A. Vaile

» W^-^Pjf HAT is a cycle path ? " ji\lljl\\k I was asked this question XlHw'] by the editor of a leading l/^sferi daily. Now editors, like lawyers, are supposed to know everything. If, then, one of these enlightened beings actually did not know what a cycle path was, we may fairly assume that thei'e are a few others in New Zealand who are in a similar benighted condition. This article is designed, not only to enlighten these, but, so far as space will allow, to show those who take au interest in cycle paths what has been done by the promoters of the movement in favour of this improved means of locomotion, and what they hope to accomplish hereafter. Probably the first cycle track made in New Zealand is ■ that in Dunedin, from Cumbei'land Street to the Queen's Drive. This track was laid down some four and a half years ago by voluntary subscriptions An energetic committee was formed, Mr, Mondy, the well-known solicitor, was elected president, Dr. Batchelor treasurer, and Mr. Richardson secretary. This committee colected a considerable sum of money, and having obtained the necessary permission,

laid down tho patk in a substantial mannor. It is about 9ft. in width, aud, although only about three-quarters of a mile in length, hiis proved a great comfort, and convenience to cyclists, as during the winter the road a! >ng which it is laid was practically imp issable for cycles. The path has, moreover, been much appreciated and froely used by pedestrians without any friction being caused between them and the cyclists. The track was composed of rotten rock' top dressed with cinders well rolled in. The cost of the track was £200, which was raised by subscriptions. It was found later on that tho rotten rook was not a very satisfactory material for a cycle path, as during the wet weather it became very soft, and when dry it wan swept away by the high winds. It was found too costly to asphalt tho path, so on the recommendation of Mr. V. H. Smith, Town Clerk of Mornington, tho track was covered with Silverstream gravel. This was well rolled, aud afterwards tarred, and has made an excellent path. It has now been down for over three years, aud is little the worse for wear. The cost of this work was £80, and this amount was raised by public subscription and a cycling carnival.

The Dunedin City Council, at the request of the committee, granted cyclists tho privilege of riding along Cumberland Street footpath for a distance of fifty chains until they reached the track. Mr. A. Crow was for a long time the secretary to the committee, and proved a most capable, enthusiastic, and energetic officer, and when, owing to pressure of business he found it necessary to resign, very general regret

was expressed. The committee, however, was fortunate in securing as his successor Miss Statham, the energetic assistantsecretary of the Auckland Cycle Roads' League. The next attempt was what is known as

the Sumner Track, in Chvistchurch. In August, 1899, the committee of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Cyclists' Touring Club decided that it was expedient to endeavour to inaugurate a movement .having for its object the systematic making

ncr track should forever, silence this class of caviller. Not only did they readily grant the desired permission, but, recognising the importance of the movement, they contributed towards the cost of the track. The Sumner Borough Council gave £25, Woolston and Linwood £15

and maintaining of cycle paths. Accordingly a meeting of delegates from each cycle club was held on August 7th, and it was decided to lay a track to Sumner, a favourite seaside resort about eight miles from the centre of the city, and to invite subscriptions from all those interested in order to defray the cost of making the

track. The Dunlop Tyre Company generously headed the list with a donation of £20. The path had to pass through five i*oad districts. Permission to lay the track was sought from the various local bodies controlling the roads which it was desired to use. Some opponents of the cjcle path movement persistently maintained that cyclists will encounter strong opposition from the local bodies whose highways they wish to use in the formation of paths. I have always been slightly impatient in dealing with those who raised this bogey, as it seemed to me utterly un-

reasonable to antici-

pate such treatment. The action of the various local bodies on

the Christchurch-Sum"

each, and Sydenham £6 10s. The Christchurch City Council, instead of contributing in money, decided to undertake the task of

laying a path 4ft. in width on. each side of the road as far as the East Town Belt, which was their boundary. So much for municipal opposition. It was not long before £150 was promised, and everything looked very favourable, but it was found that most of the subscriptions were coming from business men, and consisted of donations from a guinea upwards, and that the great body of cyclists were ically not responding to the appeals made. This looked ominous for the success of the movement. However, a start was made under the supervision of Mr. Oakley Archer, the City Surveyor and Engineer, and tenders were and accepted for a poi'tion of the track. Work was started in November. The specifications stipulated for a track averaging in thickness about 4in. Over a layer of l|in. of tarred metal was placed a layer of fine siftings, the

whole being well rolled and tarred and sanded. Tho estimated cost was £46 per mile, but as the committee doomed it bettor, in view of vehicular traffic spoiling a light track, to make the work substantial enough to bear anything that might pass over it, the cost eventually ran into something like £70 per mile.

About, this time tho funds wove exhausted, and, as it was found impossible to indnco cyclists to contribute towards tho cost of laying down the track, the committee decided to suspend operations, find up to the present they are still suspended, and likely to remain so as long as volunntary subscriptions are relied on. The completed parts of the track are still in excellent condition, and promise to remain so for some years to come. It is much used by cyclists. The Sumner Track lms not suffered much from vehicular trallic, as it is laid well towards the outside of the road,

but the portion laid by the City Council, running from Madras Street to East Bolt, has been considerably damaged, and the

necessity for the protection of cycle paths is thus made most apparent. I can heartily endorse the remarks of Mr. J. E. Greene, of Chrishchurch, an enthusiastic cyclist and late consul for the New Zealand Cycle Touring Club at the home of New Zealand

Thomas Peacocke; secretary, Mr. A. A. Davies ; treasurer, Mr. E. Nordon ; council, Messrs. E. C. Smith, P. A. Vaile, Uplill, C. J. Parr, G. Henning, J. A. Pond, H. Haines, J. A. Cooper, M. Service, J. Skeates, and Shackelford, with power to add to their number.

Mr. S. Thorne George continued to act as president for some time, but as ho found it inconvenient to attend night meeting, Mr. George Fovvlds was elected to the position, and now takes a great interest, in the work of the Auckland Cycle Roads' League, as the organisation was christened,

The majority of tho committee of tho League, acting on the experience of Southern track-builders, wcro satisliod that legislation, and nothing but legislation, would secure what they wanted. Tho energetic roads sub-committee of tho

wheelmen, when he says : "In any future attempts to lay these paths two conditions are indispensable — (1) The funds must be raised by compulsory contribution ; (2) The paths must be protected either by a kerbing or by statute." Without both these conditions, cycle paths in New Zealand must prove a failure.

This brings me to the time when Auckland started on the eyc'e path movement. In July of last year Messrs. J. A. Cooper and A. A. Davies, two of the most enthusiastic of our cyclists, convened a meeting of cyclists, to be held in the V.M.C.A. hall on the 19th of that month, to consider the best ways and means of obtaining cycle paths.

There was a fine attendance of cyclists, the large hall being well filled. Mr. S. Thome George presided, and, after an animated discussion, it was decided to form a league for the purpose of endeavouring to obtain for cyclists the additional privileges desired. The following officers were appointed : President, Mr. S. Thorne George ; vice-presidents, Messrs. D. W. Duthie and

League, consisting of Messrs. Pond, Haines, Henning, and Shackelford; however, thought otherwise, and they endeavoured to lay

down a track'*through Remuera. They were kindly assisted by the Remuera Road Board, and I believe they did something, but I have never yet met the cyclist who was able to enjoy the fruits of their efforts ; and I am informed that directly there was an appearance of improvement, horsemen and drivers took immediate steps to show their appreciation of our sub-committee's work ; and so it will ever be. Mr. Pond was so sanguine of the results of voluntary effort, that at one meeting he stated he was quite sure that within three months, if the members would give the committee the support they deserved, he would have twenty miles of good rideable roads around Auckland. The committee fully recognised the sub-committee's earnest efforts, and most loyally supported them, but the result was the "same old story " ; and so it will ever be, without special legislation.

The Auckland League speedily realized that without special legislation their efforts

would be fruitless. It was, therefore, decided that a Bill should be drawn, and that the League should endeavour to get it

Bill. As no one else seemed anxious to secure the business, I ran out a skeleton of the present Bill, and it was next evening duly considered, and referred to the legal committee. Since then the features of my little Bill have not altei"ed. True, he has " ribbed up and thickened out" wonderfully, as our sporting writers say, but he has had plenty of " brain and frame food," for which I have to thank many kind friends, both professional and lay ; indeed, so well has he been looked after and cared for, that I have every hope that when he enters on the serious business of his life, during the ensuing session, he will be deemed worthy to have his name inscribed in those interesting tomes for which we annually part with, on an average, £1 2s. 6d.

The Bill was brought forward very late last session, and it was speedily recognised that it would have no chance unless specially treated. A large petition, from cyclists in all parts of the colony, containing some ten thousand signatures, was presented to the Premier, asking him to take the Bill up, and make it a Government measure. This the Government ultimately did. It was withdrawn from

passed by the House during the session then next ensuing. It was quite easy to decide this, but it was not so easy to find anyone anxious to take up the contract. I endeavoured

to show several of my co Ileagues that it was a special opportunity to serve their country, but they did not seem impressed by my arguments, and the night before that on which the Bill was to be considered here was not a

the Lower House, and introduced into the Upper as a Government Bill. Contrary to all expectations, it passed its second reading, and then was passed out, as the members objected, and reasonably, I think, to the Bill being sent down so late. The Auckland League is now moving most energetically in the matter, and does not intend to be late this session. It is afready circulating a petition to the Premier asking him to again make the Bill a Government measure, and is working in conjunction with the other centres to push the Bill through.

I do not propose to inflict upon your readers even a resume of the Bill. It would be nearly as painful to me as to them. Moreover, it has now been most fully reviewed and criticised throughout the colony. I shall, therefore, content myself with saying that so far only two objections with a shadow of reason in them have been

but do not get — namely, ronds fit to ride ou. We feel that we hnvo no ripfht to expect anything better than the gen oral public it*

urged against the Bill. The first is that it is uufair that we cyclists should be taxed to provide that which we already pay for,

entitled to, nor more than is within the means of the various local bodies through whose districts the paths will pass, unless we are prepared to pay for it. Therefore, we say that if the great majority, feeling this, and wishing for special privileges, desires the tax, why should they not have it ? The second is that the area of the proposed cycle districts — namely, the Provincial Districts — is too large. I maintain that it is not, and that anything smaller will increase the cost of administration, and lead to complication; but, to entirely remove this objection, I say, if the Legislature does not agree with me, " Make some smaller ones." That, surely, is a very simple matter.

Many people look upon this movement as purely a cyclists' agitation. We hope before the Bill comes to be considered again, that every member of the community will realize that he or she has a direct personal interest in helping us to achieve

the object we have in view ; and so that my readers may more fully understand what I mean, I shall give a few reasons iv support of my statement. I may say, before doing so, that cycle paths are very numerous in America, and that in many cases they have been constructed by the municipal bodies. Now for my reasons.

Wherever cycle paths have been constructed, they have proved the forerunner of good roads. Even the dullest-witted farmer, as his horse staggers through the

mud, can hardly help wishing that he had as good a road as the cyclist who glides by him, and he soon learns to express his wishes.

They invariably prove of benefit to tradespeople, especially those in the small towns and villages along the track.

They promote settlement, and enable many persons, who otherwise could not afford to do so, to live at a very considerable distance from their places of employment. In American advertisements " cycle track

past door " ia as common as our " gas and city water laid on."

They form a good footpath for our country friends in places which would otherwise never know the luxury of a foot of asphalt, and so prove a boon to them and their children.

They minimise the risk of accident, not only to the cyclists, but to the driver, the equestrian, and, more important still, the pedestrian.

They decrease the general taxation,as the cyclists take upon their shoulders the maintenance of a very considerable portion of the roadway, and every foot they make and maintain is so much less for our local bodies to pay for.

In nine cases out of ten, the track will run over a portion of the roadway which is not at present used for or by anything except weeds.

These are only a few of the l'easons which cause us to hope that in the coming campaign we shall have the generous assistance and sympathy of the whole community, even as last year we had that of the Press of the colony, and with such sympathy and assistance the result will not long remain in doubt.

The influence of the cycle path movement is making itself felt throughout the United States. The Government is now making exhaustive experiments as to the best class of roadway to use, with the object of definitely ascertaining the kind of metal and method of laying which will give the best results. In many of the States equal contiguous distances of well-laid macadamized, dirt, and sand road are being laid, so that the people may have an object lesson in the manufacture and up-keep of the roads. The result is that the cycle path has become immensely popular in the States.

I have, ou account of the length to which this article has already run, had to leave out much interesting information about the magnificent American tracks — one of which is eighteen miles by over 12ft. — and the splendid accommodation provided for cyclists in connection therewith.