Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board Plan 2026-28

Submission from Spokes Canterbury

Reference: Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board Plan 2026-28 | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk

March 2026

Tēnā koutou katoa

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton 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 Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board is committed to creating a thriving, connected and inclusive community, where sustainability and the well-being of residents are a priority”

Spokes generally agrees with the vision but would like to see something about accessible neighbourhoods.

Priorities

Riccarton

Riccarton CBD Revitalisation

It is unclear which specific area you are referring to as the Riccarton CBD. Spokes supports creating better urban spaces that prioritise people and active transport over motor vehicles. This has been successful in the Central CBD, partly by 30km/h speeds. From the CCC information, 44% of people living in Riccarton are aged 15-29 and are likely to be lower waged than the CCC average and more culturally diverse. Any revitalisation should take this into account.

Smarter Transport: Traffic Optimisation

Spokes supports initiatives that improve reliability for public transport and active travel. We can see benefits in optimising traffic flow and improving network efficiency but there are more important priorities for Riccarton residents that would have a greater impact on transport. Improving network efficiency should be business as usual for council staff.

The Iran war will have a significant impact on the cost of living for the next year. This will have a greater impact on young people, students and the low waged who have fewer resources to fall back on. Many residents will be looking for alternative transport options to save money and we are already seeing an increase in cycling and public transport. Increasing cycling and public transport use reduces vehicle use and improves network efficiency.

The Community Board should be looking at ways to improve the reliability and speed of public transport. Riccarton Road could be transformed by closing it for vehicle traffic except for public and active transport. As a minimum, bus lanes need to extend, uninterrupted, for the full length of Riccarton Road and be properly enforced.

There is a good cycling base in Riccarton with 6.9% of residents biking to work and 11% biking to education (CCC figures from 2023). This can be increased with some relatively cheap changes such as providing sharrows on Puriri St (South end) and Rattray St to safely connect the South Express and the Uni-Cycle MCRs together, improving the connection between Riccarton Mall and the South Express, and completing the cycle lanes on Waimairi Road which was approved by the Community Board but never actioned.

This is a good time for the Council to promote organisations such as RAD who can provide cheap bikes, and offer incentives such as free helmets, locks or lights for those who might struggle to pay for them. Another option is low cost or 0% loans to buy a bike. Council could also encourage local businesses to provide FBT exempt cycle purchases for their employees to get to work.

The Board could also encourage major commercial organisations to improve cycle parking and provide a template for good practice. The cycle parking at Church Corner is poor.

Increased Greenspace and Tree Canopy Cover

Spokes supports increasing green spaces, tree canopy and biodiversity. As high density housing increases in Riccarton the privately owned green spaces and mature trees are being lost. We would like to see small green spaces created as opportunities arise that also work as community connections with shared paths. Access to these spaces improves physical and mental health.

Halswell

Dunbars Road Renewal

Spokes supports safe, accessible movement for all road users. As the Halswell area grows Dunbars Road has become increasingly busy and difficult to cross, particularly at peak times. Spokes would like to see a separated cycleway or at least a widened shared path along one side of Dunbars Road for less confident cyclists and other active transport uses, and cycle lanes on the road.

Halswell Junction Road and Nicholls Road Intersection

Spokes supports safety improvements for the Halswell Junction Road and Nicholls Road intersection for cyclists and pedestrians.

Hornby

Transport improvements

1. Advocate for the continued progress of the Amyes Road Renewal.

Spokes strongly supports the Amyes Road renewal with cycling and pedestrian infrastructure also added.

1. Advocate for additional budget in the Long Term Plan for the Awatea/Springs/Amyes intersection upgrade.

Spokes strongly supports the Awatea / Springs / Amyes intersection upgrade. The volume of traffic is increasing on Amyes Road and Springs Road. The intersection is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

1. Advocate for construction of missing footpaths at key locations, including Springs Road, Awatea Road, Steadman Road.

Spokes strongly supports construction of these footpaths, in particular a shared path on Steadmans Road to connect to the South Express MCR.

1. Advocate for a pedestrian link between the Hornby Mega Centre and Hornby Hub on Main South Road.

Spokes supports this link if it is also suitable for cyclists.

1. Advocate for Safer School Crossings at Hornby schools, including St Bernadettes School, Hornby High School and Gilberthorpe School.

Spokes supports safer crossings at these schools.

Looking at the wider picture there is a strong need for a safe Hornby – Halswell cycle connection. Dunbars Road / Awatea Road / Amyes Road is an important north-west, south-east link for commuter cyclists between Halswell and Hornby. This connects through to the South Express via Goulding Ave and Chalmers Street, which also need safety upgrades. The only other direct option is Halswell Junction Road, which is less safe and does not connect to the Hub Hornby or the local schools.

Fit for purpose community facilities and parks

Spokes supports fit for purpose community facilities and parks, including shared paths that are easy, safe and convenient to use. Lighting on shared paths is important, and good bike parking at destinations is needed.

Spokes Cycling Priorities in Waipuna

These priorities have come from Spokes members and from a number of public consultations in 2025 and 2026. These are our top 10 of 35 requests for Waipuna 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.

1. Upgrade the intersection of Division Street, Dilworth Street, Maxwell Street to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians to get into Riccarton Mall. This is the best connection from the South Express.
2. Improve Chalmers Street outside the Hub Hornby Mall, and the connection through the Rugby Club carpark to the South Express cycleway. Hub Hornby/South Express cycleway exit from the rugby club carpark is confusing for drivers and unsafe for cyclists as it exits on the corner and has multiple exits combining into one.
3. Hendersons Road/Cashmere road needs a shared path from Penruddock Drive to Sparks Road.
4. Improve and seal the path from Bronco Playground (in Nash Reserve) to Little River Link on the other side of the motorway. Improve safety at the adjoining path on the south-east side of the underpass. This section also needs lighting as it is used at night.
5. Provide on road cycle lanes on Waimairi Rd between Riccarton Road and Maidstone Rd, (project approved in 2020 but never delivered).
6. Provide sharrows on Puriri St (South end) and Ratray St. This would provide a connection between the South Express and Uni-Cycle cycleways, and safer cycling for students at St Theresa School (pedestrian lights on Riccarton Rd)
7. Provide a safer / faster cycling connection between Halswell and Hornby. Crossing the street along Springs Road is slowly but surely becoming more and more difficult. Some planned improvements are included in the AP but not enough to be meaningful.
8. Connect the Sparks Road cycleway through to Sutherlands Road and preferably down to the Halswell Road Intersection.
9. The unused railway spur towards Prebbleton cuts South Hornby in half. Remove the railway line and make it a shared path.This will make Hornby intersections less complicated and safer for cyclists, pedestrians and other active transport users. It could also provide better connections across the space. A lot of people work in the industrial area and want to cycle there.
10. Provide cycle lanes on Yaldhurst Road and / or a shared path on the South side from Racecourse Rd to Manakura St

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 Wapunai 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 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.

Submissions Co-ordinator

Spokes Canterbury

submissions@spokes.org.nz