Wellington.Scoop

The Wellington City Council’s transport planners have today released three options for bike lanes and related street changes through Newtown and Berhampore.

The options show different ideas for street layouts and cycling routes which aim to make cycling safer and easier for more people. But detailed designs have not been started.

Before choices are made and designs begin, the council is inviting feedback from the community.

The three options are

Package A

The planners say this includes all three of the most direct connections for people cycling between Island Bay, Kilbirnie and the central city. It includes a link from Island Bay to South Wellington Intermediate School via an off-road path and bike lanes/paths on Russell Terrace. The bike lane layout would be consistent with the existing bike lanes and planned changes on The Parade, and the uphill lanes on Constable Street and Crawford Road.

Package B

The planners say this package provides the most direct connections from Island Bay and Kilbirnie to the central city but not the most direct link between Island Bay and Kilbirnie. Other than the connection to Kilbirnie, this package would provide fewer neighbourhood connections for people on bikes.

The two-way bikes lanes/paths and routes would involve changes to fewer streets than the other two packages, and have the least impact on parking. However they would not be consistent with the existing bike lanes and planned changes on The Parade, or with the uphill bike lane on Crawford Road.

and

Package C

The planners say this package provides the most connected network of routes for all three suburbs (Berhampore, Newtown and Mt Cook). As well as direct connections to Kilbirnie and the central city, it connects more neighbourhoods and provides more alternative routes for people on bikes. It also provides the most direct connections from Island Bay and Kilbirnie to the central city, and a connection to the south coast.

The council says it is taking a fresh look at how to improve neighbourhood connections and develop safer links to the city:

As well as the people who already cycle, we want families, children learning skills on school bike tracks, and anyone else who would like to be able to go by bike sometimes, to have routes where they feel comfortable riding. This can only happen by making changes on some streets, so we hope you will work with us to help develop the best possible plan for your wider neighbourhood.

Feedback is now open till December 11.

And then, says the council: