Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board Plan 2026-28

Submission from Spokes Canterbury

Reference: Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board Plan 2026-28 | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk

March 2026

Tēnā koutou katoa

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board Plan 2026-28

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.

Our Vision

“The community is supported and well-connected, and residents are enabled and encouraged to actively participate in local decision making to shape their communities.”

Spokes generally agrees with the vision but would like to see a vision statement that addresses safe and accessible transport options. We are currently seeing the social impact when transport options are limited and unaffordable.

There is a strong connection between transport and housing. We need to continue to build denser residential areas with connections to dedicated cycleways, neighbourhood greenways (shared spaces with low speed limits and narrowed streets), MRT, and frequent buses with continuous bus lanes. Green communities are more resilient.

Priorities

An Integrated Transport Network for the Waipapa Board

Advocate for the inclusion of the Northcote/Greers/Sawyers Arms corridor in the Long Term Plan, supported by studies and monitoring, to deliver safety, eﬀiciency, and future growth solutions across short, medium, and long terms.

Sawyers Arms is a fast growing area with rapidly increasing vehicle volumes. Northcote Road carries large volumes of trucks and other commercial vehicles. It is also a critical link for cyclists.

The top safety priority for cyclists in the Waipapa area is on Northcote Road. The 700m between QEII and Northern Line on the south side needs a separated cycleway. Many cyclists, including high school students, bike down here and more cyclists would use this route if it was safer. The current proposal on the north side may help St Bedes students get to school a little more safely but does not solve the safety issues for the majority of cyclists. The issues have gotten worse since the opening of the Pak’nSave supermarket which is also a desirable destination for cyclists.

The Northcote Road / Greers Road / Sawyers Arms Road intersection can no longer handle the volume of traffic wanting to turn in and out of Sawyers Arms Road. It is difficult for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the road safely. This intersection needs a safety audit. Prioritising the Langdons Road / Greers Road intersection for lights was the right decision and this intersection is now much safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

The Sawyers Arms Road / Highsted Road roundabout is also problematic with long queues developing at times. Impatient drivers are not looking for cyclists as they try to boot it through small gaps in the traffic.

Partner with external agencies to advance transport safety initiatives in the Board area, exploring opportunities for co-funding through robust business cases that align with government priorities.

The government has been underfunding active and public transport in the greater Christchurch area for decades. We are now the fastest growing area in New Zealand and the second largest city in New Zealand. Council needs to advocate strongly on our behalf for this to change.

Christchurch has been fortunate and well-prepared in the past to take funding opportunities as they arise. We should have a series of shovel-ready business cases that have been consulted on and ready to go if the funding opportunity arises.

The Community Board should strongly support the MRT business case, in partnership with ECAN, Selwyn and Waimakariri, as a priority for Papanui and look at ways to provide an interim express service using buses with limited stops on the proposed route. This would provide further evidence of the demand for the MRT. In the current crisis it would also save fuel. A cheap way to increase efficiency would be to extend the hours of the bus lanes to increase reliability.

Continue to advocate for the reinstatement of the Central City Shuttle.

Spokes supports reinstating the Central City Shuttle.This is an excellent way to get around the CBD without driving, and provides a great service for locals and tourists alike who may not have or be able to use micro-mobility. Share an Idea had a strong theme of wanting less cars in the CBD. The shuttle will help realise that vision by providing an alternative way to travel.

Engage with the community on local transport issues, and take a measured, big-picture view, including the impacts of urban growth when considering transport issues in our community.

Green fields developments and high density housing are creating transport challenges. They are also an opportunity to ensure good active and public transport is put in place, including cycling infrastructure. The community board should ensure that good walking and cycling permeability using alleyways and green spaces is provided to encourage active transport. Public transport also needs to take new subdivisions into account, preferably before they are built. New sub-divisions should be required to have a plan providing good walking and cycling connections; including safe, convenient interconnections with existing neighbourhoods.

DEMP – Continue to advocate for and support any ongoing initiatives due to the eﬀects of the Christchurch Northern Corridor and bring forward funding if appropriate.

Spokes would like to see a safer cycle route created east of Cranford Street – Philpotts Road, Kensington Ave, Flockton St, Geraldine St, Churchill St using greenway treatments including speed reductions and road narrowing for most of the route. A connection across Bealey Ave would be needed (like on Fitzgerald between Cambridge Tce and Alexandra/Heywood) with kerb cutdowns). This would benefit local residents by discouraging rat-running through these streets.

DEMP – Advocate for the retention of the Cranford Street bus lane as a permanent feature.

Spokes supports making the bus lane permanent and increasing the hours that the bus lane is in force. Bus lanes are also good for confident cyclists, emergency vehicles, and allow residents along the bus route easier access to their properties.

Support school safety initiatives, including the development of connected cycleways and other infrastructure or measures that improve safe access for students.

Spokes strongly supports safety initiatives around schools to prioritise active transport, including the development of safe connected cycleways. As a priority, Spokes would like to see safety work on Cranford Street near Fraser Street, including a shared path, and the Fraser St intersection improved. The Blighs Road school crossing for Waimairi School should be reviewed for safety as vehicles are driving through it without stopping.

The old overbridge between the school and Hawthorne/Hartley could be upgraded to make it accessible with ramps instead of steps.

Advocate for targeted road safety improvement trials or calming measures in known hotspots to address and reduce anti-social driver behaviour.

Spokes supports this initiative.

Advocate for surface flooding to be prioritised in the Flooding Programme in known flooding hotspots.

Flooding on cycleways and footpaths should also have priority.

Do you have any comments on this priority?

See below for Spokes list of priorities in the transport area.

Thriving, Safe and Prepared Communities

Climate, local risk, community engagement

Resilience and social connection rely on good transport options. Disasters can also mean limited or unaffordable access to fossil fuels or damaged roads. Cycling is a resilient and affordable option in these circumstances. Walking, cycling, and public transport also increase social cohesion. You are more likely to talk to your neighbours or notice what is happening around you when using active and public transport. You need to have a bike and be a confident cyclist before any event. The Community Board should support RAD, Bike Bridge, and other community groups and individuals who teach people to ride a bike and provide low cost bikes to individuals. Cycle Safe is an important CCC service teaching school children to ride.

There is a growing demand to teach younger children to ride, particularly in immigrant communities where they see their children missing out as they are unable to teach them skills they do not have themselves. Finland starts their school training at five years old. It will soon hopefully become legal for under 12 year olds to ride on the footpath which will finally allow the Council to teach these children how to do it safely.

Spokes supports community-based engagement and participation in decision-making processes as this leads to better outcomes for everyone.

Urban Growth and Community Planning – Papanui-Innes-Central

Spokes strongly supports new development being well connected via active transport modes with safe travel options to schools and other local facilities.

Older communities that are now being redeveloped with infill housing also need to be looked at. These neighbourhoods may have poor connections. Now is the time to purchase small parcels of land to make these neighbourhoods more porous via alleyways and small green spaces.

We also support the creation of additional community facilities and recreational spaces, which help keep people active and engaged in the community. These spaces should be accessible by bus and bicycle, with adequate bicycle parking provided and CCTV cameras to help prevent bike theft. Many of our popular destinations lack suitable bike parking as well.

Parking on the street is creating safety issues for cyclists, and in narrow streets access issues for residents. Residents have lost the ability to turn vehicles on their properties so they are backing out of narrow driveways onto roads full of parked cars creating poor sight lines to see pedestrians or cyclists.

While micro mobility scooters are a great alternative to the car, they are too often left in the middle of footpaths blocking access for prams, and mobility scooters. There is an opportunity during street redesigns to open out intersections (reduce parking close to intersections) and instead have low shrubbery and places to park e-scooters. This can then be enforced by rental e-scooter companies. This has a two fold effect of improving safety at intersections and removing scooters from pathways.

Grassmere Development

Spokes supports an alternative entrance way for trucks and commercial vehicles onto this site. While the construction company is doing its best to keep the current entrance safe, it is closing the cycleway regularly, often well before the truck gets to the crossing. Many cyclists are simply going out onto the road where there are no controls, particularly high school students. Perhaps the trucks could wait for the cyclists rather than the other way around.

This subdivision needs to be well-connected for active transport, including pathways and cycling routes that safely and eﬀiciently support the growing population. Public transport options should be planned now before the houses are occupied.

Papanui Youth Project

The recreation facility should have active transport connections and have good bike parking.

MacFarlane Park

MacFarlane provides great cycle connections as an alternative to Marshlands Road. Apart from the art work, community gardens and toilets it is a very bare area. Attracting more foot and cycle traffic would improve the park and make it safer for all. Spokes support increased tree canopy and smaller native plantings that can enhance the area. Better signage and bike parking would also help activate the area.

A pump track, skate park or a learn to ride (like Westburn Terrace) space would be a great addition to this under-utilised park. A bike skills area for younger children (like the one removed near the Margaret Mahy Playground) or an area set aside for older children to build their own dirt ramps with some council supervision. (like in Jeffreys Reserve) could be considered.

Westminster Park

The park and neighbouring areas have been poorly designed for active transport with no thought of using the park to get local destinations. There are no shared paths that could improve access. The few alternatives are closed off with chains and have no entrance. Please add bike parking during the upgrade.

Phillipstown Hub

Spokes supports the purchase of the Phillipstown Hub site.

Greening the East 2.0

Spokes supports increasing green spaces and tree canopy in the east.

Land should be acquired to create green spaces, which also create shortcuts for pedestrians and cyclists (including bus-users). Ideally these would all connect up to form a network of green corridors, which ensure everyone has easy access to green spaces (essential for human well-being) as well as providing habitats for native flora and fauna.

Streets and roads could also be redesigned to increase tree coverage, build rain gardens, and slow traveling speeds at the same time. Road plantings and slower speeds can create pleasant, healthier and safer environments for everyone.

Poor designs of road plantings can make it less safe for cyclists. Rose St is a good example where there is no defined road edge.

Anything else

Spokes Cycling Priorities in Waipapa

These priorities have come from Spokes members and from a number of public consultations in 2025 and 2026 at various events.

Waipapa (excluding Central City)

These are our top 12 of 58 requests for Waipapa, excluding within the four avenues, in priority order. Note that some priorities are also reflected in the Community Board priorities above, and some are partially in design or completed but not finished.

Northcote Road – 700m between QEII and Northern Line on the south side needs a separated cycleway. Lots of high school students bike down here. The current proposal on the north side does not solve the problems for cyclists.
The QEII path crossing over Innes Road near the roundabout on QEII drive is dangerous due to the speed of traffic and poor sight lines.
Improve safety on Cranford St near Papanui Primary School for cyclists, including the Fraser Street intersection
New Harewood Road development at the railway line has narrowed the Northern Line and made it very hard to see who is coming both going north and south. There are houses on the right and the stream on the left. Narrow section beside St James Park between new harwood road crossing and park. Paint and signage has improved the situation but as the volume of cyclists and pedestrians increase it needs a more permanent solution.
Need a red arrow on Prestons Road into Marshlands Road to help bikes continuing on Prestons Road. Drivers are cutting off cyclists at the Marshlands / Preston intersection. Hard for cyclists in cycle lane on Prestons Rd going straight (west) as lots of left turning traffic over cycle lane. This has been reviewed by staff but Spokes still thinks this intersection is problematic.
Langdons Rd is unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians (particularly near Northlink). This road should have a safety review.
Greers Rd (north of Clyde Rd) on road cycling lanes need extending the full length of the road.
There is a good route from Wilsons Road to Wilsons Rd North to the paths around past Lancaster Park. Crossing Brougham St is no problem due to far off light phases. But from Shakespeare Rd and on to the bike lanes at Lancaster Park is very treacherous, otherwise this is a good route for linking the South and the East. This was referred to staff including safety changes at the Wilsons Road / Shakespeare Road intersection.
Farquhars Road Underbridge with Main North Road. Currently no option to go west to get to the pedestrian / cyclist bridge crossing as the road is one way east. Create a two way shared path in the space under the bridge and slow traffic coming off the Main North Road. This route connects to the Northern Line.
Create a grade separated crossing under the Styx Overbridge north side of the railway line, Northern Line cycleway to 14 Cunliffe Road. This connects on the other side of the railway line to Farquhars Road.
Blighs Road near Tilman Ave should have mid-block traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing for Waimairi School students. Traffic on this road is getting busier.
Create a safer cycle route east of Cranford Street – Philpotts Road, Kensington Ave, Flockton St, Geraldine St, and Churchill St using greenway treatments including speed reductions and road narrowing for most of the route. A connection across Bealey Ave would be needed (like on Fitzgerald between Cambridge Tce and Alexandra/Heywood) with kerb cutdowns).

Central City

These are our top 12 of 49 requests for the Central City

Park Terrace /Harper Ave Carton Mill intersection and Carlton Mill Bridge. Corner by bridge. Entrance off Harper often floods making it harder for cyclists. Carlton Mill Road, Park Terrace, Harper Ave, Bealey Ave intersection needs to be improved for all users. West end of Bealey Ave into Hagley Park. Either narrow footpath conflicts with walkers or narrow lanes conflicts with fast cars.
Intersections entering and exiting the hospital along Riccarton Ave are dangerous. The intersection after the chapel heading east is the worst. Add a zebra crossing to make it safer.
Armagh St bridge, at the entrance to North Hagley Park, is a conflict point for cars, cyclists and pedestrians (too much conflicting use of a small space)
Fitzgerald and Kilmore intersection at lights (NE corner of intersection) – need more space rather than 90 degree pivot in only a bike space or less width. This intersection connects the City to Sea with the city shared path along Oxford Terrace.
Riccarton Ave outside the hospital is too narrow. The cycle lane is often filled with debris.
Lighting through Hagley Park needs improving several sections. Hospital staff use it at night. In some places it is difficult to see ahead and some cyclists do not feel comfortable, including parallel to Hagley Ave, parallel to Deans Ave near Matai street, and along the Avon River in Little Hagley Park. Issues include areas with no lighting, places where more than one lamp is not working, and places where lighting has been overgrown by trees.
Papanui Parallel into the city south of Bealey should be a separated cycleway.
Connecting Rapauni-Shag Rock to Cathedral Sq, a project approved a few years back but never delivered. It currently ends at Fitzgerald Ave.
Papanui Road to Park Terrace Cycle way
Connection needed along Gloucester St between Christ’s College and Tūranga
Signage in the central city [Hagley Park area] is missing to the start of the main cycle ways around the city.
Outside Christ’s College Gloucester Street/Rolleston Ave. Cycle beg button needs a way to it and raise awareness with green paint. The pedestrian and the cycle crossing should be in the same phase
South city bus stops on Colombo Street push cyclists out into the traffic. A sign warning cyclists are going to merge is needed. Sharrows and speed enforcement would help in this 30 km/h zone.

Spokes is happy to provide more details on these priorities on request.

There are also some general things that can significantly improve cycling in the Waipapa area.

Speed reductions make neighbourhoods safer for all road users. Spokes would like to see more roads reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h and from 60km/h to 50km/h.
Pedestrian / cyclist refuge crossings make it easier to get across busy roads.
Bike parking at popular destinations and events that suit a wide range of bikes such as cargo and cargo trikes with space for loading and unloading children.
Provision of cut downs into and out of paths in parks and alleyways – suitable for cargo bikes and mobility devices.
Progressively remove staples and bollards at alleyway entrances that are too narrow for cycles, push chairs and mobility devices to navigate. Put reflective tape on bollards that remain and paint diamonds on pavement where appropriate. Where bollards remain, offset them back from the entrance slightly
More cycle signage and way-finding. This was the top request at the UCSA Orientation Day from new students. Adding ‘except cycles and pedestrians’ signs to no exit streets with alleyways helps for navigation
Reinstating cycle infrastructure when road works are completed, e.g. green paint.
Improved lighting for cycling and walking through parks and alleyways.
Greater enforcement for vehicles parked / driving in cycleways and cycle lanes, or dangerously parking at school entrances. Automated 24/7 enforcement at hot spots.
Ensuring that cyclists trigger the lights at intersections without waiting for a car or pressing the pedestrian button. E.g. If there is a cycle lane at the intersection, make sure the cycle lane has underground loops to trigger the signals, and diamonds on the road surface so cyclists know where to ride.
Spokes would like to see bike parking provided at all playgrounds.
Flexi-posts should be installed on left-hand bends where drivers cut the corner and drive in the cycle lane or shoulder, where possible. These have been very effective along Kotare Street.

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

Ngā mihi nui

Submissions Co-ordinator

Spokes Canterbury

submissions@spokes.org.nz