Courtesy of Land Transport NZ, this map shows the location of cycle vs motor vehicle injury accidents since 2002. Click on the map to get a bigger view. A few interesting observations:
- the loop around Lake Pupuke extending to Anzac St is dotted with accidents, including Kitchener Rd (more on Kitchener Rd in another post soon). This is a concern given the number of schools in the area, and the popularity of Takapuna and the lake environs
- the Glenfield Rd/Wairau Rd/Sunset Rd area is clearly a danger zone
- East Coast Rd from Constellation Drive to Sunset Rd is dangerous – a worry given the proximity of Rangitoto College
- Accident clusters occur further north on East Coast Rd as well
- Sadly a fatality has occurred on Browns Bay Rd at Rothesay Bay.
Looking at the map, it's clear that most of the accidents are occurring on our major arterials. Many cyclists use their bikes to commute or take extended loops for exercise. Arterial roads are the obvious choices as residential streets just don't link up to where cyclists want to go.
I'd like Council's traffic engineers to really focus on these accident clusters, and see what improvements to roadway design, including the provision of cycle lanes, could be made to reduce the risk to cyclists.
I'd like our incoming Councillors to back initiatives to remove these black spots and make the Shore a safer place for its most vulnerable road users.
And in particular, I'd like motorists and the cycling community to take extra care in these areas until something is done. There are few enough cyclists out there already.
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