Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/SelwynStreet
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Selwyn Street safety and accessibility improvements.
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
Overall Spokes support the proposed changes which will make Selwyn Street safer for pedestrians, particularly around the school and child care centres, however more could be done for cyclists.
Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate
Spokes supports:
- Upgrading and raise the existing zebra crossing 100mm to slow vehicles approaching the crossing
- Extending the bus bay to allow for a second bus
Spokes Comments:
- Would prefer the crossing was made a joint pedestrian/cycle crossing
- Add curb cut downs to the raised crossing to allow children on bikes to use it to cross Selwyn Street, and add painted cycle lanes.
- We prefer that the speed reductions be made permanent outside the school. Variable speeds do not take into account the wide range of hours children are accessing outside the school.
South of Milton Street
Spokes supports:
- Extending the yellow no stopping lines for the pedestrian refuge island at the Roker Street / Selwyn Street intersection and removing the carparks to improve visibility at the crossing point
- Narrowing the intersections of Cooke Street, Leitch Street, Dunn Street and Stenness Avenue to shorten the distance for pedestrians crossing these roads, including adding yellow lines and removing car-parks.
- Upgrading the pedestrian refuge island at the Somerfield Street end of Selwyn Street, adding 75mm speed humps on the approaches, adding yellow lines and removing car-parks to increase safety. This intersection is well used by children getting to school and can feel unsafe and be difficult to cross at busy times. Improving this intersection will encourage less confident cyclists and pedestrians to use active transport.
- Installing pedestrian refuge islands on Somerfield Street, on either side of Selwyn Street. These will make it easier for those walking to and from Courtyard Montessori Preschool and Waka Huia Childcare, adding yellow lines and removing car-parks to make it safer.
- The advanced stop boxes and cycle lane at the Milton St intersection.
Spokes Comments
- There should be a cycle lane from Bletsloe Street to Roker Street for school children and others to connect to the Quarryman’s Trail and school.
- Install Yellow lines and remove one park outside 110 Selwyn Street at the Milton Street intersection on the north east corner to make it easier for cyclists to safely exit the intersection. A white line pushing the vehicles over more towards the centre would also help.
- Provide cycle lanes along Selwyn Street. At the very least cycle lanes should be added where the build-outs have been added to provide some protection for cyclists.
- Uncontrolled intersections should be converted to a give-way, e.g. Cooke Street.
- Improvements to Cooke Street and Penrith Street intersections to make them safer for cyclists.
- This is an opportunity to redo the curbing at Roker Street to make a smoother transition to the Quarryman’s Trail. There are significant bumps, particularly if you have children aboard a long-tail bike. The transitions on the west side and the roadway are really bad.
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 Coordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
