https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/submission_guide_for_brooklyn_connections_survey

WCC is currently engaging with the public. Project page at https://www.transportprojects.org.nz/current/brooklyn-connections/project-details/

“We're changing our streets to give people safer, easier climate-friendly ways to get around our compact city. Wellington's streets are grinding to a halt as our population and car use continue to grow. We’re planning permanent improvements so more people can walk, ride bikes or scooters, and use buses between Brooklyn and the city.”

Closes: 5pm, Sunday 23 July

Start here -> Submit your feedback through this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9ZDZFC

You have three options. Choose an option.

1. Quick feedback - 7 questions about the Brooklyn connections proposal, plus a bit about you. See our suggestions below.

2. Detailed feedback - Answer questions about different parts of the Brooklyn connections project including changes within Brooklyn, project objectives, plus a bit about you. See our suggestions below.

3. Or just say what you think. Email [email protected]

Here’s our suggestions:

1. Quick feedback

Do you support the proposed plan to move from the temporary implementation to a permanent solution?
Select strongly support.

If you have any comments about the overall proposed plan, please share them here:
This is a good step in the right direction to make it easier to get around the city by walking, cycling and public transport. I am safer cycling on protected bike lanes. 

The bike lane on Ohiro Rd should be protected, not just paint. Physical flexipost separators and kerbs should be added.

WCC’s transport policies state that safe walking and cycling is more important than parking. There is significant suppressed demand for walking and cycling in this area, so it is appropriate to reallocate street space as proposed.

Raised zebra crossings, or at least kerb build outs and a speed table, should be added across the mouths of side streets that are currently wide and dangerous where cars enter/exit dangerously fast, including: Nairn Street at Willis/Brooklyn; Nairn Street at Renouf Centre; Bidwill St; Washington Ave; Ohiro Road; and Tanera Cres.

If you want, you can upload a file in support of your feedback here:
Optional

What is your main relationship to the Brooklyn area?
Select as appropriate.

How do you normally travel around the Brooklyn area?
Select as appropriate

How important is it to make changes to existing street space to make it safer and easier for people to walk, ride, scooter, or use public transport?
Select very important.

Would you like to speak to Councillors in support of your submission?
Select as appropriate. You can do this online or in person. Speaking to Councillors can be very helpful. Cycle Wellington will present in person. 

2. Detailed feedback

Section one - Brooklyn Road

Do you support proposed changes to Brooklyn Road?
Select strongly support.

Do you have any comments to make about this part of the proposed design?
Cycling down Brooklyn Rd is still beside parked cars. Although it’s not permitted to drive on a flush median, I expect some drivers will use it to overtake, nudging people on bikes to the left into the dangerous door zone. This needs fixing. I suggest car parking is removed to reduce risk.  

WCC’s transport policies state that safe walking and cycling is more important than parking. There is significant suppressed demand for walking and cycling in this area, so it is appropriate to reallocate street space as proposed.

The uphill bike lane should be wider than 2m to permit overtaking or riding side by side.

The upper Brooklyn Rd footpath-level cycle path will also be used by people walking and running as a footpath. In practice it will operate as a shared path. It’s too narrow to be a shared path. It should either be kept as a street-level cycle path with concrete separators (like Island Bay cycleway), or made into a proper footpath and cycle path like on Evans Bay Parade. 

The cycle path at the bus stop is too narrow at 1.3m. Make it wider.

Raised zebra crossings, or at least kerb build outs and a speed table, should be added across the mouths of side streets that are currently wide and dangerous where cars enter/exit dangerously fast, including: Nairn Street at Willis/Brooklyn; Nairn Street at Renouf Centre; Bidwill St; Washington Ave; Ohiro Road; and Tanera Cres.

Connections at Victoria, Webb and Willis St need to be upgraded to connect this project to the wider network.


Section two - Ohiro Road (between Brooklyn Road and Cleveland Street)

Do you support proposed changes for Ohiro Road (between Brooklyn Road and Cleveland Street)?
Select strongly support.

Do you have any comments to make about this part of the proposed design?
This could be better. I prefer protected bike lanes rather than paint only. Physical flexipost separators should be added for the cycle lanes.

The cycle lane width at the bus stop needs to be sufficient. The rendering suggests it could be too narrow.


Section three- Cleveland Street

Do you support the proposed changes on or adjacent to Cleveland Street?
Select strongly support.

Do you have any comments to make about this part of the proposed design?
Pedestrian upgrades and parking changes will make Cleveland St more pleasant and safer. These changes are helpful, but don’t go far enough. More traffic calming is needed to make this an attractive neighbourhood centre. 


Section four - Ohiro Road (between Brooklyn Road and Aro Street)

Do you support the proposed changes on Ohiro Road (between Brooklyn Road and Aro Street)?
Select strongly support.

Do you have any comments to make about this part of the proposed design?
I’m sceptical that the majority of cyclists will change their downhill route to Ohiro Rd as it offers a lower level of service than Brooklyn Rd.

The Ohiro Rd intersection with Brooklyn Rd is unnecessarily wide and has high-speed geometry. It should be made much narrower, with raised zebra pedestrian crossings or at least raised tables.

The side road intersections with Ohiro Rd are unnecessarily wide and have high-speed geometry. They should be made narrower, with raised zebra pedestrian crossings or at least raised tables. This includes Tanera Cres,  City to Sea Walkway, and Maarama Cres.

There are no safe crossing points across Ohiro Rd between Aro St and Brooklyn Rd. Raised zebra crossings should be incorporated into some of the speed humps proposed, such as at Maarama Cres, City to Sea Walkway, and Tanera Cres, to improve connectivity to Central Park.

Section five - Brooklyn connections: summary

Do you support the proposed plan to move from the temporary implementation to a permanent solution?
Select strongly support.

If you have any comments about the overall proposed plan, please share them here:
This is a step in the right direction to make it easier to get around the city by walking, cycling and public transport.

It's good to see raised tables proposed at some side roads. These should be at all side roads, with curb build outs to reduce crossing distances and vehicle speeds. As shown by the fatal crash at St Mary St when a driver ran over an elderly couple crossing the road, there is a known hazard from vehicles turning at high speed into wide side roads. The Council has a responsibility to make that safe, and we have solutions available.

It's a great feature that the Brooklyn hill cycleway is currently wide enough for people to ride together, and for e-bikes to overtake non-e-bikes. E-bikes are popular in Wellington! The new design should ensure the cycleway is wide enough for this. 

If you want, you can upload a file in support of your feedback here:
optional

What is your main relationship to the Brooklyn area?
Select as appropriate.

How do you normally travel around the Brooklyn area?
Select as appropriate

How important is it to make changes to existing street space to make it safer and easier for people to walk, ride, scooter, or use public transport?
Select very important.

Would you like to speak to Councillors in support of your submission?
Select as appropriate. You can do this online or in person. Speaking to Councillors can be very helpful. Cycle Wellington will present in person.

Thanks for having your say. It's important to advocate for safe and pleasant streets.