Somerfield and Strickland Street
Intersection Safety Improvements
Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: Somerfield St and Strickland St intersection safety improvements | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Somerfield and Strickland Street
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.
It is pleasing to see improvements to this intersection. This area is used by a lot of cyclists and pedestrians. The Strickland / Tennyson Street route is popular with cyclists travelling south east / into the city from Beckenham and beyond. This is a big improvement on an intersection that has been problematic and dangerous for cyclists.
Spokes supports:
- Adding the tactile pavers and speed humps to the crossing on Somerfield Street. We presume you are not shifting the crossing. If you leave the crossing in the same place the entrance in the fence at Moon Under Water is very narrow. This is difficult for bikes, prams and mobility devices to navigate particularly when someone is sitting at the table
- Adding the small section of protected cycle lane on Somerfield Street, northwest-bound from Colombo St. Currently there is no cycle lane here and left turning vehicles from Colombo St constantly cut off cyclists. It is also intimidating for pedestrians waiting at the lights (Colombo and Somerfield Streets, SE corner) when a large vehicle cuts in closely. The green paint should be extended to the line for the pedestrian crossing (see diagram below) so that cyclists can easily see they have to turn tightly into this space as it might be obscured by the plantings. We would also like the inside curb and channel to look like the diagram at the bottom of this document so a bike could safely go over it if something happens
- Reconfiguring the Moon Under Water’s lease area for outdoor dining and fencing to improve pedestrian visibility. See above about the crossing issues
- Adding green paint to the existing cycle lanes to identify conflict points and remind drivers to expect cyclists
- Adding a narrow central median island on Strickland Street to prevent cars turning too early when turning right from Strickland Street into Somerfield Street. It will also slow traffic down.
- Adding no stopping restrictions (approx. 1.5 car lengths) outside 1/141 Somerfield Street to improve visibility. Could the cycle lane be made the full width to the kerb and channel between the intersection of Somerfield and Strickland Streets and when parking space is provided on Strickland Street (western side)?
- Adding additional landscaping and cycle stands. This area is a popular destination for cyclists and the stands can often be full.
Spokes would like to see:
- Put up two signs (potential locations marked in pink below)
- “Left turning traffic give way to cyclists” for drivers coming off Colombo Street onto Somerfield Street, and
- “Right turning traffic give way to cyclists” for drivers coming off Strickland Street onto Somerfield Street
- The protected section of cycle lane on Somerfield Street (between Colombo St and Strickland St) should be a minimum of 1.8 metres wide to allow for cargo bikes and trikes, particularly as it curves
- Please add sharrows and an advanced stop box for the left turn from Somerfield St onto Colombo Street north-bound (see below)
- Please add standard cycleway signage on the corner of Colombo Street indicating that Strickland Street goes to the city (connecting up to the Quarryman’s Trail MCR)
- Please add sharrows and an advanced stop box on Colombo St in the left turning lane into Somerfield Street (see below)
- Please remove the concrete bollard on the footpath, which is a hazard to pedestrians.
- Extend the green cycle paint to the Keep Clear sign on Strickland St (see image below) so that traffic approaching Colombo St can see that they should expect cyclists in the middle of the road. If you can dash the cycle lane across the Keep Clear area, that would be even better. It is currently one of the most dangerous parts of the intersection for less confident cyclists as vehicles bully cyclists out of the way or blindly turn right from Somerfield St without looking for cyclists.
Other
- We have some concerns about traffic turning into Somerfield St (at the Strickland Street intersection) seeing the speed hump and unexpectedly hesitating, catching out any cyclist travelling straight ahead on to Strickland St (NW-bound from Colombo St). The cyclist could end up going into the side of the vehicle if they were travelling too fast. Particularly long vehicles like trucks or people towing trailers. We also acknowledge that humps provide the best protection for more vulnerable users of the crossing, like pedestrians
- Add tactile paving to the Somerfield Street / Colombo Street intersection
- Rename the small section of Somerfield Street, between Colombo Street and Strickland Street, to Strickland St instead, to make it quite clear that Somerfield St traffic does not have the right of way
- Please add green surfacing/paint on the cycle lanes at the Colombo Street/Somerfield St intersection
- Consider a left-in, left-out only option for Somerfield St at the Strickland St intersection (extending the median island all the way to Colombo Street)
- Kerb and channel options alongside the separated cycle lane to reduce hazards for cargo bikes and trikes (see image below)
- Long term, consider realigning the eastern end of Somerfield Street so that it meets Colombo Street at the Tennyson Street intersection, and the Strickland St intersection is a cul-de-sac except for bicycles and pedestrians.
I would like to speak to the Waihoro Community Board when this intersection is considered.
Ngā mihi nui
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
Somerfield and Strickland Street
Intersection Safety Improvements
Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: Somerfield St and Strickland St intersection safety improvements | Kōrero mai | Let’s talk
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Somerfield and Strickland Street
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.
It is pleasing to see improvements to this intersection. This area is used by a lot of cyclists and pedestrians. The Strickland / Tennyson Street route is popular with cyclists travelling south east / into the city from Beckenham and beyond. This is a big improvement on an intersection that has been problematic and dangerous for cyclists.
Spokes supports:
- Adding the tactile pavers and speed humps to the crossing on Somerfield Street. We presume you are not shifting the crossing. If you leave the crossing in the same place the entrance in the fence at Moon Under Water is very narrow. This is difficult for bikes, prams and mobility devices to navigate particularly when someone is sitting at the table
- Adding the small section of protected cycle lane on Somerfield Street, northwest-bound from Colombo St. Currently there is no cycle lane here and left turning vehicles from Colombo St constantly cut off cyclists. It is also intimidating for pedestrians waiting at the lights (Colombo and Somerfield Streets, SE corner) when a large vehicle cuts in closely. The green paint should be extended to the line for the pedestrian crossing (see diagram below) so that cyclists can easily see they have to turn tightly into this space as it might be obscured by the plantings. We would also like the inside curb and channel to look like the diagram at the bottom of this document so a bike could safely go over it if something happens
- Reconfiguring the Moon Under Water’s lease area for outdoor dining and fencing to improve pedestrian visibility. See above about the crossing issues
- Adding green paint to the existing cycle lanes to identify conflict points and remind drivers to expect cyclists
- Adding a narrow central median island on Strickland Street to prevent cars turning too early when turning right from Strickland Street into Somerfield Street. It will also slow traffic down.
- Adding no stopping restrictions (approx. 1.5 car lengths) outside 1/141 Somerfield Street to improve visibility. Could the cycle lane be made the full width to the kerb and channel between the intersection of Somerfield and Strickland Streets and when parking space is provided on Strickland Street (western side)?
- Adding additional landscaping and cycle stands. This area is a popular destination for cyclists and the stands can often be full.
Spokes would like to see:
- Put up two signs (potential locations marked in pink below)
- “Left turning traffic give way to cyclists” for drivers coming off Colombo Street onto Somerfield Street, and
- “Right turning traffic give way to cyclists” for drivers coming off Strickland Street onto Somerfield Street
- The protected section of cycle lane on Somerfield Street (between Colombo St and Strickland St) should be a minimum of 1.8 metres wide to allow for cargo bikes and trikes, particularly as it curves
- Please add sharrows and an advanced stop box for the left turn from Somerfield St onto Colombo Street north-bound (see below)
- Please add standard cycleway signage on the corner of Colombo Street indicating that Strickland Street goes to the city (connecting up to the Quarryman’s Trail MCR)
- Please add sharrows and an advanced stop box on Colombo St in the left turning lane into Somerfield Street (see below)
- Please remove the concrete bollard on the footpath, which is a hazard to pedestrians.
- Extend the green cycle paint to the Keep Clear sign on Strickland St (see image below) so that traffic approaching Colombo St can see that they should expect cyclists in the middle of the road. If you can dash the cycle lane across the Keep Clear area, that would be even better. It is currently one of the most dangerous parts of the intersection for less confident cyclists as vehicles bully cyclists out of the way or blindly turn right from Somerfield St without looking for cyclists.
Other
- We have some concerns about traffic turning into Somerfield St (at the Strickland Street intersection) seeing the speed hump and unexpectedly hesitating, catching out any cyclist travelling straight ahead on to Strickland St (NW-bound from Colombo St). The cyclist could end up going into the side of the vehicle if they were travelling too fast. Particularly long vehicles like trucks or people towing trailers. We also acknowledge that humps provide the best protection for more vulnerable users of the crossing, like pedestrians
- Add tactile paving to the Somerfield Street / Colombo Street intersection
- Rename the small section of Somerfield Street, between Colombo Street and Strickland Street, to Strickland St instead, to make it quite clear that Somerfield St traffic does not have the right of way
- Please add green surfacing/paint on the cycle lanes at the Colombo Street/Somerfield St intersection
- Consider a left-in, left-out only option for Somerfield St at the Strickland St intersection (extending the median island all the way to Colombo Street)
- Kerb and channel options alongside the separated cycle lane to reduce hazards for cargo bikes and trikes (see image below)
- Long term, consider realigning the eastern end of Somerfield Street so that it meets Colombo Street at the Tennyson Street intersection, and the Strickland St intersection is a cul-de-sac except for bicycles and pedestrians.
I would like to speak to the Waihoro Community Board when this intersection is considered.
Ngā mihi nui
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
