Has anyone been keeping an eye on how the alterations to SH1 around the hospital build and the associated cycleways / pedestrian walkways are shaping up?
I’ve just fielded a call from the ODT asking for the thoughts of Spokes members on that stretch; they noted that the cycleway is looking to be quite narrow, and that this might concern people who are cycling quite a bit.
I just biked there yesterday - northbound and it was very narrow. However I could not tell if that is meant to be short term while they are working on access to the building.
Ok, fresh off ye olde bike camera from yesterday, just heading South then North on the Hospital Block - free to share: https://youtu.be/jALtpg46MKI Going South feels narrow but ok; going North I hope is to be fixed still - way too narrow & timtams are a hazard.
Kia ora Nathan, i have not ridden this stretch yet. My understanding these are temporary changes. The NZTA update indicates that funding has been approved for the design phase so I would imagine that the final plan for cylce infrastructure is yet to be determined. During the consultation process all the talk was that the existing cycle infrastructure would be improved (i am not holding my breath). Also it is unclear from the update whether the design work will be put out for consultation and feedback. I will see if i can get some answers from NZTA / Waka Kotahi. Matt
I’ve just taken a look this morning and can confirm the the Southbound SH1 is fine, but the Northbound SH1 has two big issues (both identified in @GerardH’s video above) that really need urgent remediation:
1/2 ‘Tim Tams’ in the middle of the cycleway
Over halfway along, there are old 1/2 height Tim Tams smack bang in the middle of the temporary cycleway, which present a particular hazard for those towing children, disabled cyclists, and those on micromobility:
This is a bit further along, where the fence / old Tim-Tam interaction is terrible. It is a crash waiting to happen, again more acute for those towing children, disabled cyclists, and those on micromobility:
I spoke with the Project Manager of the inpatient build (Jason Tutty), and showed him the photos and video. He agreed that these are significant problems, and we discussed several constructive ways that they could be mitigated, e.g.
Possibly removing the 1/2 Tim Tams
Alternatively using ashphalt around them to reduce their impact
Changing the fence arrangement to eliminate the pinch point
Placing something on the ground to lead people away from the exposed large Tim Tam
He certainly seemed to take what we discussed with appropriate gravity, and I look forward to seeing these mitigations shaping up soon.
slightly later…
I’ve just touched base with the build team, and they plan to change the layout of the last bit (i.e. where you are heading directly at a large Tim Tam after the section above) so that it is a straight run to the intersection instead.
This might take a week or two to do as they have a lot to juggle along both roadways, but it will get there.
