The Kitchener Rd debacle

As I receive feedback from candidates it's surprising quite a few know nothing about the Kitchener Rd issue.

From my perspective here's the story that unfolded in mid-2005.

Council has an excellent Cycling Strategy that anyone can read at http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/?src=/transport_and_roads/cycle-strategy/default.htm. On that page you'll see a map of popular cycling routes, including the Lake Pupuke route marked in light blue. A key component of that route is Kitchener Rd/Hurstmere Rd between Milford and Takapuna on the north-eastern side of the lake.

This is a popular route for cyclists and runners alike, as it provides an easy terrain 6km loop around the lake, served by cycle lanes in places. Further, Kitchener Rd links the northern bays to Takapuna and the ferry terminals to the south. When I was living in Browns Bay I commuted Kitchener Rd frequently on my way to and from the Devonport ferry, and continue to use it now to get to work in Takapuna by taking a wide arc from Birkenhead.

Now the difficulty with Kitchener Rd is that it is wide enough to support a single lane of traffic in each direction, plus car parking for some of its length. There are pinch points at places where parking is already restricted to aid the flow of traffic.

The problem for cyclists is that we are frequently forced to pull out in to the traffic stream to avoid parked cars, around which we must take a wide berth to guard against inattentive door openers. As you can see from my previous post, cycle vs motor vehicle accidents are occurring on this stretch of road.

Identifying this as a busy arterial road putting cyclists at risk, noting that this route is a key component of the NSCC Cycling Strategy, and noting Council's responsibilities under the Land Transport Management Act 2003, Council planners and engineers proposed marking cycle lanes on each side of the road to improve safety and traffic flow, with the attendant loss of some (not all) parking spaces.

Well, what a fuss the residents kicked up! Why should we lose “our” parking spaces for the sake of a few sweaty cyclists? Who's going to compensate us for the loss of value of our properties? Where are visitors going to park?

Now these are no “ordinary” residents. Living in their million dollar homes overlooking the lake or Gulf, they form a wealthy and influential clique. Led by resident Tim Turner, they initiated a petition and forced the Council to call a public meeting to air their views, and followed up with letters to the local North Shore Times and concerted lobbying. Having attended the public meeting and listened to and read their self-serving assertions, I was compelled to write a letter of my own to the North Shore Times:

Click on the letter to see an enlarged view.

A cyclist petition followed, and despite it completely overwhelming the residents' one, guess where we are now over two years later in 2007?

You got it – no progress whatsoever. Residents 1, Cyclists 0.

So where were our Councillors when we needed them? Who succumbed to the residents' lobbying and stalled the initiative? Sadly I have to put Kevin Schwass, Ivan Dunn, Andrew Williams and Martin Lawes in this group.

Now Martin has contacted me and says that he is generally in favour of cycling initiatives, but sided with the residents in this case. He thinks perhaps a clearway may be a good compromise solution.

Similarly Andrew, a keen recreational cyclist and generally in favour of cycling initiatives, also sided with the residents due to their limited parking options, and proposed a southbound clearway.

As I see it, the difficulty with a clearway is that it facilitates two narrow lanes of southbound traffic rather than one, whether lanes are marked or not. This is nowhere near as safe for cyclists. Most cyclists find cycle lanes navigable at any speed as separation from traffic is reasonably assured. Cyclists mixing it with cars and buses in a clearway zone need to be exceptionally fast and skilful as there is no margin for error, and no room for motorists to overtake. Believe me, it is quite intimidating for cyclists to have cars or buses trying to overtake them within the confines of a single narrow lane. It happens.

Not surprisingly, Council planners and engineers rejected the clearway option.

The other two candidates (Kevin Schwass and Ivan Dunn) who supported the residents have neither responded to my initial survey, nor responded to my specific request to discuss this issue. Read in to that what you will. [Candidates – if I have misrepresented you, your opinions, or actions, please contact me or leave a message on this post and I'll be happy to put it right.]

And my opinion?

I believe that Council's planners and engineers got it right the first time, and I'm hoping that a more cycle-friendly set of Councillors will be able to drive this initiative through. Shore residents who live on arterial roads (and I'm one of them living in Birkenhead Ave) must understand that their private property rights do not extend to public roads, where the focus has to be on the safe and efficient movement of traffic.