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

LGWM Safer Streets – Johnsonville and Ngā Ūranga Gorge

Cycle Wellington feedback guide, November 2022

This is an essential link between northern suburbs and the city. We welcome the upgrades, but these don't go far enough to provide a basic level of protection for people on bikes.

Please have your say at https://nzta.mysocialpinpoint.com/lgwm-johnsonville-ngauranga/feedback#/sidebar/tab/about_this_project

Safer Streets is a programme with the explicit aim to make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and to encourage mode shift away from private motor vehicles.

The proposed design was guided by KPIs set down in the Strategic Business Case. Feedback should try to connect with these KPIs wherever possible as that will provide leverage for adoption.

The KPIs are below.

Johnsonville

The focus on the triangle can be largely grouped into four sections

Common issues to all sections

• Motor vehicle traffic is still 50km/h. Increasing the danger to cyclists and pedestrians from drivers darting in and out of intersections. KPI1, KPI4

• Intersections are still very wide with dedicated turning lanes for motor vehicle traffic. KPI1, KPI4, KPI5, KPI6

• No design proposals to discourage high speed exits and entering of off-street parking locations and businesses. KPI1, KPI4

Johnsonville Road between Moorefield Road and Broderick Road

This section has two options proposed to try and improve the safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Option 1 is the minimum acceptable proposal to improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. It involves the installation of a protected uni-directional cycle lane on either side of the road. With a handful of on street parks that are separated from the cycle lanes via a curb.

Option 2 offers no protection for cyclists as the cycle lanes are firmly within the door zone of the on street parking which would be largely retained. This option should be rejected.

Another problem is the retention of the beg buttons for the mid-block signalised crossings. These prioritise vehicle traffic over pedestrians in the centre of Johnsonville.

Suggestions to highlight

• Option 1 is the minimum acceptable to support the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. KPI1

• Beg buttons need to be replaced with either zebra crossings or automatic detection and phasing. With absolute maximum pedestrian wait times. KPI3, KPI11

Broderick Road between Johnsonville Road and Moorefield Road

This section of road is only proposed to have on street parking changes to support mobility parking users.

The painted cycle lane will still directly interact with motor vehicle traffic flowing at 50 km/h on a high traffic section of road. Much of the road also contains a flush median. This is space that could be used to provide bus or protected cycle lanes.

Suggestions to highlight:

• The high speed of traffic that cyclists must interact with and no physical protections. KPI1, KPI4

• The width of road dedicated to the flush median. Reallocate for a dedicated bus lane, maybe contraflow. KPI5, KPI6

Moorefield Road between Broderick Road and Johnsonville Road

The bus stop currently located directly across from Waitohi is proposed to be moved to where the handful of park and ride spots are. A cycle lane will be directed behind this stop similar to what is found at the bottom of Ngā Ūranga Gorge or on Island Bay Parade.

Uni-directional on street cycle lanes are proposed with most on street parking removed.

The speed limit will remain at 50 km/h with no proposals on how to discourage drivers to enter more slowly from the many intersections.

Suggestions to highlight:

• The high speed of traffic that cyclists must interact with and no physical protections. KPI1, KPI4

• Buses are forced to interact with existing traffic while dedicated turn lanes are provided for general traffic at intersections. Reducing the speed and reliability of public transport. KPI5, KPI6, KPI9
  

Johnsonville Road between Broderick Road and SH1

Unprotected uni-directional cycle lanes proposed along this section of road remove the conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. Parking that remains will be on the path side of the cycle lane, placing cyclists into the door zone of parked vehicles while three or more lanes are allocated to motor vehicle traffic.

Suggestions to highlight:

• The high speed of traffic that cyclists must interact with and no physical protections. KPI1, KPI4

• Buses are forced to interact with existing traffic while dedicated turn lanes are provided for general traffic at intersections. Reducing the speed and reliability of public transport. KPI5, KPI6, KPI9

• Providing dedicated cycle lanes improves the quality of movement for both cyclists and pedestrians compared to the existing shared path. KPI1, KPI4

• There is no detail on how drivers will be discouraged from speeding as they enter or exit the flow of traffic across the cycle and pedestrian paths. KPI1, KPI4
  

Ngā Ūranga Gorge

The changes here are more limited.

The main components of the proposal are

• Widen the shared path on both sides where space allows.

• Improved crossing at Newlands Road for cyclists and pedestrians

• Morning peak hour bus lane from the Newlands interchange to Glover Street
  

Suggestions to highlight:

• The lack of any physical protection of pedestrians and cyclists from the 80 km/h traffic. This is dangerous and heavily discourages use by less confident cyclists. KPI1, KPI4

• The pinch points under the NIMT railway bridge and Johnsonville offramp where the shared path narrows to a point that’s narrower than many bicycles. KPI1, KPI4

• The morning peak hour bus lane is a must have to improve the reliability and attractiveness of public transport. KPI5, KPI6, KPI7, KPI8

 

Summary

Johnsonville

• Motor vehicle traffic is still 50 km/h. Increasing the danger to cyclists and pedestrians from drivers darting in and out of intersections. KPI1, KPI4

• Intersections are still very wide with dedicated turning lanes for motor vehicle traffic. KPI1, KPI4, KPI5, KPI6

• No design proposals to discourage high speed exits and entering of off-street parking locations and businesses. KPI1, KPI4

• Johnsonville Road option 1 is the minimum acceptable to support the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. KPI1

• Beg buttons need to be replaced with either zebra crossings or automatic detection and phasing. With absolute maximum pedestrian wait times. KPI3, KPI11
  

Ngā Ūranga Gorge

Suggestions to highlight:

• The lack of any physical protection of pedestrians and cyclists from the 80 km/h traffic. This is dangerous and heavily discourages use by less confident cyclists. KPI1, KPI4

• The pinch points under the NIMT railway bridge and Johnsonville offramp where the shared path narrows to a point that’s narrower than many bicycle handlebars. KPI1, KPI4

• The morning peak hour bus lane is a must have to improve the reliability and attractiveness of public transport. KPI5, KPI6, KPI7, KPI8

Thanks! Your voice makes a difference.