Oram Avenue Bus Layover

Submission from Spokes Canterbury

Reference: https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/OramAve

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Oram Avenue Bus Layover consultation.

Introduction

Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 followers. Spokes 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 and Canterbury areas. Spokes has a long history of advocacy in this space including writing submissions, presenting to councils, and working collaboratively with others in the active transport space. We focus on the need for safe cycling for those aged 8 to 80. Spokes also supports all forms of active transport, public transport, and has an interest in environmental matters.

Proposal Overview

Overall Spokes Canterbury supports the plan to provide a clearly defined layover area for buses on Oram Avenue (between Hood Street and Beresford Street) to improve the bus service and minimise the impact on local residents, such as through noise pollution.

What Spokes Canterbury endorses in the proposal.

1. Marking out the formal bus layover area (using paint) and installing signs

What Spokes Canterbury opposes in the proposal.

1. Nothing per se, but see our suggestions below

Recommendations that we think would improved the proposed design

1. We would love to see some high-quality bike parking, preferably covered, where people can securely lock their bikes before taking the bus into town for work/school/etc. Covered stands help protect bikes from the elements and make it nicer for riders who are using the stands with open bags while locking up their bicycles.
2. Please install painted cycle lanes to ensure passing vehicles don’t hang too far left and obstruct cyclists
3. Please plant more trees in the median. This will add amenity to the bus drivers taking breaks
4. Please electrify the bus fleet as soon as possible to minimise noise and air pollution
5. Please use yellow hatching instead of yellow boundary paint (just lines at the edges – no idea what to call these) for the layover area? I imagine people will ignore yellow boundary marking
6. Please formalise some (ideally permeable – see image below) parking spaces in the median due to increased housing density (like they have further north), and cone/bollard them off for events like Matariki when extra buses are put on

I would like the opportunity to present to the Waitai Community Board on this submission and I am happy to discuss or clarify any issues that arise.

Submissions Co-ordinator

Spokes Canterbury

submissions@spokes.org.nz