Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/rawhitirenewal
Date 16 Nov 2025
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Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Rawhiti Avenue Renewal initial consultation
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.
Response
Rawhiti Domain is a connector route for cyclists and pedestrians between Marine Parade and Rawhiti Domain. A lot of cyclists use the Rawhiti Domain paths during the day as a quiet route away from traffic that suits less confident cyclists. This route also provides access for cyclists to the sporting facilities in the domain. Rawhiti Domain is less safe at night due to the lack of lighting and the narrow rough paths. It will be interesting to see how the pattern of use changes when the shared cycle path goes in on Marine Parade.
Traffic on Rawhiti Avenue is currently quiet but there is a lot of high density housing going into this street which will increase conflicts, particularly as there is little parking provided.
We would like to see:
- Narrowing at the intersection with Marine Parade to slow traffic
- A street redesign that makes the road more of a shared space, slow speeds, trees, indented car parks and a more human centred street, rather than cycle lanes.
- Yellow lines before the entrance to the large carpark next to 15 Rawhiti Ave (for the Rugby Club??) to ensure good sight lines
- Improvements to the west part of Rawhiti Ave where it turns towards the rugby club (on Google maps it looks like this is still an official part of the road). This section is narrow with no shoulder. Add sharrows to this section.
- Improvements to the path into the domain, you have to weave between fences for softball and golf area before joining the north-south path (ex Shaw Ave)
- Signs for cyclists to indicate the route to Rawhiti Domain at both ends. The route is not obvious if you do not know it is there.
- Improvements at the intersection to Marine Parade to get across to the new shared path.
- Lighting at the end of Rawhiti Ave past the New Brighton Rugby Football Club and into Rawhiti Domain
- “Watch for Cyclists” signs, particularly at the narrow west section of Rawhiti Ave.
I am happy to discuss or clarify any issues that arise.
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
