We are, finally, getting some actions out of the “Quick Wins” project that we started last year with Auckland Transport for New North Road.
As you may remember, CAA undertook a user audit, and AT separately hired a safety auditor to review the cycling safety of the road.
One issue the audit identified (and classified with the highest & 2nd-highest safety risk rankings) was a number of “merge conflict” pinch points..
Basically, these are locations downstream of signalised intersections where car parking quickly restricts the traffic lanes down to one again, creating a risk that you will be squeezed out as drivers wrestle who gets to be first. This is particularly a safety risk at off-peak (during peak, many of these areas are already clearways). With less parking, you will have more time to merge / motorists driving faster than you will often have overtaken you already by the time you get there.
Auckland Transport is now proposing to remove parking permanently at four identified locations, as proposed by the auditor.
As part of their normal process, Auckland Transport has handed out consultation materials about this change to local residents and business owners. It is likely that they will be strongly opposed, as we have seen on other projects. Cycle Action went to bat for all people who want safer cycling conditions and said – why should only the people parking (or profiting from parking) in these areas be able to have a say? What about the people whose safety is currently endangered by these car parks, a fact that has been accepted by an independent safety audit?
We are pleased to report that Auckland Transport agrees that cyclists riding on NNR should be able to voice their opinion on the proposed change as well. So please:
- If you ride on NNR, or would ride there if it was safer:
- Click on the link and look at the proposals,
- then send your opinion to the email given at the bottom of the page.
Thanks to all cyclists in the project area for participating!