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Centaurus Road roundabout – pedestrian safety improvements

Notes:
1. Formatting on this web page does not exactly match the submitted email – but the wording and intent are the same.
2. Sam Sharland is CCC’s Engagement Advisor for this change.
Kind regards, Chris Abbott.

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/haveyoursay/show/510

From: secretary@spokes.org.nz <secretary@spokes.org.nz>
Sent: Friday, 3 June 2022 12:22 p.m.
To: Sam Sharland (samantha.sharland@ccc.govt.nz) <samantha.sharland@ccc.govt.nz>
Subject: Centaurus Road roundabout – pedestrian safety improvements

Hi Sam

Here is Spokes’ submission on the above suggested changes.

The consultation documents do not include any accident statistics.

Is CCC aware of the accident history – recorded and / or anecdotal – at or within 1km of this intersection?

If so Spokes would appreciate that any knowledge is made public through this consultation process.

Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 members and is affiliated with the national Cycling Action Network (CAN – https://can.org.nz/).  Spokes is dedicated to including cycling as an everyday form of transport in the greater Christchurch area.

We would like the opportunity to appear at any public hearing held to consider submissions on this project. Should there be an officer’s report or similar document(s) we would appreciate a copy(s).

Summary
Safer streets support:

Overall Spokes supports the cycling improvements proposed for the Centaurus Road roundabout, but requests changes to the proposal in the interests of safety.

On https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/haveyoursay/show/510  CCC proposes:

QUOTE
What we’re doing
We are Installing three raised speed humps to slow traffic as they approach the roundabout:

  • Wilsons Road South
  • Both approaches on Centaurus Road

We are creating two new crossing points with islands at:

  • Wilsons Road South
  • Centaurus Road east side

We are increasing the width of the existing crossing on Centaurus Road west.
We are putting in new pedestrian markings on the footpath on Albert Terrace corner by Mobil to highlight the pedestrian space, making it safer.
We are removing one tree on Centaurus Road east to help with visibility when crossing the road. Two new trees will be planted in the area.
We are installing a small speed hump outside the Mobil garage to slow cars as they exit.
We are removing the disused ‘Kea’ Crossing on Wilsons Road South. The kerb buildouts will be kept.
UNQUOTE

Considerations
This five-way intersection is complex and subjectively – and objectively – feels dangerous, and is further complicated by:

  • The petrol station on the corner of Albert Tce and Centaurus Rd.
  • Martins School located on Albert Tce, but also accessible per Lascelles St & Hillsborough Tce (the only 3 access routes, all of which originate from Centaurus Rd)

It is both a through-route for those traveling along the bottom of the hills (many motorists and also many cyclists) and a destination with school, shops and tennis club at or near the intersection.

As a complex intersection it is pleasing to see the Council considering safety improvements, but these must be targeted at all users, not just pedestrians.

There is much research that shows that as collision speed increases the risk of serious injury or death grows exponentially.  See https://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/can-reducing-speed-limits-reduce-fatal-bicycle-and-pedestrian-crashes/ for good coverage of this topic.  The “gem” in the article states that

“Keeping vehicles away from both pedestrians and cyclists is still the safest for all involved. When all come together into closer contact, it should be at points where vehicles are required to travel at lower speeds. Because the speeds posing the risk of severe injury are already low, further lowering them for protracted periods on the roadway may be impractical”.

But this is not a fresh site – roads, houses and businesses already exist.  There is already much traffic flowing through this intersection.

Changes requested by Spokes
Spokes asks that the Council:

  1. Change the title of the change from “Centaurus Road roundabout – pedestrian safety improvements” to “Centaurus Road roundabout – safety improvements

The proposed changes also:

  • Directly affect cyclists and those using other forms of active transport
  • Indirectly affect motorists too by reducing the likelihood and impact of their having an accident and having to live with the potential guilt of causing injury or worse

2. Reduce speed limits around this roundabout to 30kph as per the diagram attached below.  This proposed lack of speed reduction at a complex intersection that includes petrol station, shops and a cycle lane is the single biggest omission in the proposed changes.

3. Add speed humps on entry to the intersection on Armstrong Ave and Albert Tce, meaning that there will be speed humps on ALL entries to the roundabout.

4, Formalise pedestrian crossings for all five roads and to include both sides of the road.

5. Extend the existing marked (very narrow) cycle lane from 249 Centaurus Rd to at least 267 Centaurus Rd.

6. Reduce the speed limit to 30kph for the entire “pocket” bounded by Albert Terrace, Lascelles Street, Hillsborough Terrace, Vernon Terrace and Rapaki Rd, with reasons below:

For most drivers the slower speed is already what is (in normal weather) considered safe for the conditions ie for most it is already the implied and observed limit. For the rest, and for the safety of others, they should slow down.  This is mandated by the NZ Road code, which states that “You can drive at any speed under or equal to the limit, provided:
i)    “your speed is safe for the traffic conditions (for example, slow down if you are on a busy road, or if there are pedestrians or cyclists around)
ii)    “your speed is safe for the road conditions (for example, slow down if the road is winding, bumpy, narrow, wet or icy)
iii.    “your speed is safe for the weather conditions”

Conditions i and ii are relevant for this “pocket”, meaning that practical speeds are already much lower than the “legal” maximum

7. Advise when / if it proposes to review the appropriate speed limit for Riverlaw Tce, especially the cul-de-sac section to the east of Armstrong Tce

8. Add bike counters in the area ASAP so that changes can be measured objectively before and after alterations to the road layout

Implementing these requests will slow vehicle traffic:

  • Lowering the risk of collisions, and
  • Lowering the severity of injury if collisions do occur, and
  • Encouraging more active transport because of the perceived greater safety

The below map represents the outcome that Spokes requests (with a 30kph limit continuing to the end of the streets shown).

Kind Regards, Chris Abbott
Secretary, Spokes Canterbury
Cell: 021 654 344