Burwood / Mairehau Intersection Safety Improvements
Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: Burwood / Mairehau intersection safety improvements | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk
July 2025
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Burwood / Mairehau Intersection Safety Improvements.
Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,300 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.
New Pedestrian Refuge
Spokes supports the new pedestrian refuge, including the speed humps, and the relocation of the bus stop.
The Burwood / Mairehau Intersection
Spokes has some concerns about both options for this intersection. Overall Spokes prefers the roundabout option.
Roundabout option
Spokes supports:
- Speed humps on all four approaches. Speed humps lower traffic speeds and make intersections safer for everyone.
- Cyclists only having to deal with one lane of traffic from each direction
- The sharrows indicating to drivers and cyclists to share the road. We support the council continuing to educate people about what these mean.
- Larger refuges for pedestrians and concerned cyclists.
- Would like the yellow no parking lines on the south east corner of Mairehau Road to be extended to 238 Mairehau Road to lessen conflict between cyclists and vehicles approaching the intersection.
There are not enough vehicles (8,000) using the intersection to warrant the cost of lights. The roundabout option can provide safety enhancements faster and with less funding.
Signalised Intersection option
If the Community Board chooses the signalised option.
- Spokes supports the new yellow no-parking lines, lane markings and cycle hook turns
- Would like the yellow no parking lines on the south east corner of Mairehau Road to be extended to 238 Mairehau Road to lessen conflict between cyclists and vehicles approaching the intersection.
Issues with both options
- The footpath on the south east corner is too narrow and space is taken up with power poles. A wheelchair, pushchair, or someone walking with a bike would find it very difficult to navigate. It is unclear how there is space in a lights option with two lanes of traffic to provide a better solution but not in the roundabout option. Even with the lights option we would suggest removing the grass to make the path even wider.
- When travelling east on Mairehau Road on a bicycle through the intersection it can be difficult to see if any cars are pulling out of the angled parking, and for the parked cars to see cyclists coming.
I would like to speak to the Waitai Community Board when this intersection is considered.
Ngā mihi nui
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: Burwood / Mairehau intersection safety improvements | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk
July 2025
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Burwood / Mairehau Intersection Safety Improvements.
Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,300 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.
New Pedestrian Refuge
Spokes supports the new pedestrian refuge, including the speed humps, and the relocation of the bus stop.
The Burwood / Mairehau Intersection
Spokes has some concerns about both options for this intersection. Overall Spokes prefers the roundabout option.
Roundabout option
Spokes supports:
- Speed humps on all four approaches. Speed humps lower traffic speeds and make intersections safer for everyone.
- Cyclists only having to deal with one lane of traffic from each direction
- The sharrows indicating to drivers and cyclists to share the road. We support the council continuing to educate people about what these mean.
- Larger refuges for pedestrians and concerned cyclists.
- Would like the yellow no parking lines on the south east corner of Mairehau Road to be extended to 238 Mairehau Road to lessen conflict between cyclists and vehicles approaching the intersection.
There are not enough vehicles (8,000) using the intersection to warrant the cost of lights. The roundabout option can provide safety enhancements faster and with less funding.
Signalised Intersection option
If the Community Board chooses the signalised option.
- Spokes supports the new yellow no-parking lines, lane markings and cycle hook turns
- Would like the yellow no parking lines on the south east corner of Mairehau Road to be extended to 238 Mairehau Road to lessen conflict between cyclists and vehicles approaching the intersection.
Issues with both options
- The footpath on the south east corner is too narrow and space is taken up with power poles. A wheelchair, pushchair, or someone walking with a bike would find it very difficult to navigate. It is unclear how there is space in a lights option with two lanes of traffic to provide a better solution but not in the roundabout option. Even with the lights option we would suggest removing the grass to make the path even wider.
- When travelling east on Mairehau Road on a bicycle through the intersection it can be difficult to see if any cars are pulling out of the angled parking, and for the parked cars to see cyclists coming.
I would like to speak to the Waitai Community Board when this intersection is considered.
Ngā mihi nui
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
Burwood / Mairehau Intersection Safety Improvements
Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: Burwood / Mairehau intersection safety improvements | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk
July 2025
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Burwood / Mairehau Intersection Safety Improvements.
Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,300 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.
New Pedestrian Refuge
Spokes supports the new pedestrian refuge, including the speed humps, and the relocation of the bus stop.
The Burwood / Mairehau Intersection
Spokes has some concerns about both options for this intersection. Overall Spokes prefers the roundabout option.
Roundabout option
Spokes supports:
- Speed humps on all four approaches. Speed humps lower traffic speeds and make intersections safer for everyone.
- Cyclists only having to deal with one lane of traffic from each direction
- The sharrows indicating to drivers and cyclists to share the road. We support the council continuing to educate people about what these mean.
- Larger refuges for pedestrians and concerned cyclists.
- Would like the yellow no parking lines on the south east corner of Mairehau Road to be extended to 238 Mairehau Road to lessen conflict between cyclists and vehicles approaching the intersection.
There are not enough vehicles (8,000) using the intersection to warrant the cost of lights. The roundabout option can provide safety enhancements faster and with less funding.
Signalised Intersection option
If the Community Board chooses the signalised option.
- Spokes supports the new yellow no-parking lines, lane markings and cycle hook turns
- Would like the yellow no parking lines on the south east corner of Mairehau Road to be extended to 238 Mairehau Road to lessen conflict between cyclists and vehicles approaching the intersection.
Issues with both options
- The footpath on the south east corner is too narrow and space is taken up with power poles. A wheelchair, pushchair, or someone walking with a bike would find it very difficult to navigate. It is unclear how there is space in a lights option with two lanes of traffic to provide a better solution but not in the roundabout option. Even with the lights option we would suggest removing the grass to make the path even wider.
- When travelling east on Mairehau Road on a bicycle through the intersection it can be difficult to see if any cars are pulling out of the angled parking, and for the parked cars to see cyclists coming.
I would like to speak to the Waitai Community Board when this intersection is considered.
Ngā mihi nui
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
