In brief: Contra-flow cycle lanes get approved in bylaws
Some months ago, CAA asked cyclists to write in to Council / Auckland Transport’s bylaw submissions process, seeking a clarification of the (future) traffic bylaws. Our request was to ensure that contra-flow cycle lanes (making a one-way road two-way for cyclists) are unambigiously possible under the new bylaws.
Apart from submissions by CAA and the Waitemata Local Board, the bylaw received quite a few submissions from cyclists after our request - Thanks everyone!
[And if you cycle in the Manukau or Papakura areas - please also submit online on the new cycle projects down there - deadline this weekend]
Subsequent legal advice back from AT was that even in the previous wording, contra-flow cycle lanes would have been possible – but it’s great to hear that Council have now inserted an additional clause stating “Auckland Transport may specify by resolution that cycles may travel in the opposite direction on a one-way road.“
A great result, putting contra-flow lanes on solid legal ground. Now we only need to put them down as paint! Where would YOU suggest contra-flow cycle lanes on our one-way streets?
Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, General News, Submissions
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Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Council / Auckland Transport, Cycle lanes, General News, Submissions
Fullers (CAA Sponsor)
Themocracy
Jean Batten Place, Fort Lane, Galway and Tyler Streets in Britomart, High St, Fort St (a small part at the end is one way), Lorne St outside the central library.
Contra-flow lanes up High and Fort Streets would be fantastic – however, given Jean Batten Place and Lorne Street outside the Library are already shared zones I’d say they are fine as is.
Lanes on these roads would be the beginnings of an alternate bike route to Queen Street, which as we know is a resolutely cycle-unfriendly traffic sewer especially when you’re going uphill (Symonds Street with its speeding buses and 18-wheelers dodging the Strand weigh station is not much better).
Give people a comfy way to navigate along the High Street shops and associated lanes, link it with the Library and art gallery, and I think it would really start to hum.
Shared zones are still legally one way streets.
Another place for a contra-flow lane would be Alfred St Pedestrian Mall.
That’s correct, Christopher, though I admit that most people (probably?) would not know that that also applies to cyclists.
I think for the shared space streets, a resolution alone would be enough, signage or an actual cycle lane would not be needed or wanted. Similar for Alfred Street.
I think the most positive change would indeed be High Street, though sadly, I can see some resistance to the idea, as the carriageway is pretty narrow there, seeing that High Street was designed with maximum parking in mind, and thus has door zones on both sides – a “keep all to the left” type of standard cycle lane won’t work in the space that is left.
And I bet AT won’t be keen to make it the first cab off the rank with those constraints. The most promising streets are those that were once two-way streets, but have been turned into one-way for other reasons, not for width. Those usually end up having lots of space.
Lower end of Union St between Victoria and Sale Streets (would be great if other part of Union St could be contra flow but there a physical limitations).
Ponsonby Rd between College Hill and Pompellier Tce (just need to make sure the cars are aware when they turn in from Jervois rd)
Hi Max!
I’m writing a story on the new bylaw for Te Waha Nui and would love to have a chat to you about it (you seem to be enthusiatic)
Please send me an email on sarahmariakrieg@gmail.com so we can organise a time to chat.
Thanks
Sarah
Hi, Having used the contraflow cycleways in London, there are risks to cyclists in that pedestrians will typically fail to look or listen for cyclists going the ‘wrong way’ on a one way street. I had a number of crashes with Peds who simply walked or ran out across a contraflow cycle lane.
Matt
Fair point – that could be somewhat balanced by marking a clear, visible greened cycle lane with arrows heading the other way.