[!ai]
Advocates for safer, quieter cycleway routes over high-pollution corridors; proposes investigating low patronage through better school and commuter links. Supports a multi-phase commuter rail network from Mosgiel and surrounding townships, alongside a walking and cycling bridge to connect the waterfront. Prioritises the maintenance of existing green spaces and biodiversity through native planting and pest control.
Kia Ora Devonia,
I and my partner are keen cyclists and we especially enjoy the harbourside/waterfront cycleway. Isla also sometimes cycles to work (Dun hospital), weather permitting, where she is an op theatre nurse. However, I’m not happy with the cycleway running alongside SH1 to/from work… pollution, stop/start at traffic lights and not entirely safe (there is potential for accidents with traffic cutting across bicycles when turning L or R at traffic lights… if light signals misread). Wonder if cycleway should have been designed to run up/along quieter/slower Princes St Octagon George St?.. Or maybe with George St becoming pedestrian friendly this is no longer an option anymore? Needs investigation…Recently bought e bikes, which Isla likes as can ascend Middleton Road now, whereas before had to push her bicycle up the hill (not ideal after a tough day’s work)… and here in lies the problem I think with not as many people cycling in Dunedin, as there should be… too hilly for most people, too much traffic/pollution for others I suspect. Some cycleways are underutilized. For example, Kaikorai Valley cycleway is rarely used (or rarely used whenever I’ve been driving up/down it, which is quite often). Why not? Why are kids not cycling too/from school (KV school half way up KV road). Likewise, not seeing as many kids cycling to S Dun schools eg King’s Queens as should be… Why not? Need to find out… Even cycleways going into town SH1 especially from South Dunedin underutilized… Why? Is it due to reasons mentioned above re pollution, noise, congestion, weather and danger… or are there other factors at play? Why is cycling not as popular here as in European cities? Need to find out/address this issue.
I’m also big on trains. As part of my campaign, I’m keen for an investigation on the viability of (fast) commuter trains coming in from Mosgiel. This would help reduce car traffic flow coming in from the west, reducing congestion, pollution and easing up much needed city parking, and save people (commuters) money (especially with the price of fuel rocketing currently). Then I think (Phase 2) a park and ride facility at Mosgiel could be investigated shuttling/linking passengers to/from the airport. I’ve actually checked out Mosgiel and Wingatui railway stations for this purpose recently and reckon that Wingatui railway station has the most potential… Then (Phase 3) how about investigating potential for commuter trains coming in from north (Waikouatiti) and east (P Chalmers)?
Of all our cycleways I think the harbourside one running from P Chalmers to Portobello (and beyond) with possible ferry crossings between these 2x villages has the most potential, especially as most heavily used by tourists, visitors. Would like to see waterfront dev., going ahead with pedestrian/cycle friendly overbridge linking harbourside cycleway with Octagon via Queens Gardens… potentially reduce ratepayers costs of key overbridge by involving Ngai Tahu in design and implementation of both overbridge and waterfront dev.,
Should bicycles and e scooters etc., be banned from city centre/retail sector (or allowed at quieter times early/late in day for commuting)? Should e scooter riders not be wearing helmets? Yes.
I think our bus service is not bad/adequate currently. Ideally “bus lanes” would be great but not possible in Dunedin’s cramped streets.
I think Dunedin has some great public spaces e.g. Botanic Gardens and its Green Belt which are real treasures. We appear to have plenty of parks, some like Woodhaugh gardens as nice places to walk around/listen to native bird sound, plenty of sports parks e.g. always impressed by childrens’ activities/sports at the Oval when driving by… our swimming pools are good, I swim at St Clair outdoor pool most days in the summer and think the Esplanade, 2nd Beach walk, John Wilson drive along with our wonderful beaches are all great places to walk (+/- dog… we have a spaniel). So really it’s about maintenance of these great public spaces and keeping them clean/litter free. I recently had a letter published in the ODT re St Clair swimming pool and how it could not only do with a fresh lick of paint, changing room upgrades, replacing missing tiles on pool bottom, but most importantly replacing/upgrading the pool vacuum, which has not been functioning efficiently.
I’m also a great believer in continuing to develop our local Biodiversity… more native plantings, coupled to increased pest control (including feral cats). I am leading a local Biodiversity planting project of a local park in the Kew-Corstophine area… 500 native plants on a dry sunny bank v 500 more (different species) in a boggy shady area meeting our Biodiversity criteria…
So there is a brain-dump of my thoughts around cycling/ public transport in Dunedin… hope it answers your questions…
Aye, Angus