Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Two roads lead to the city

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  • Ken Sparks,

    Thanks for this Russell - as a fellow Pt Chevian and cyclist I share your concerns. I hope the pohutukawas can stay (I signed and shared the petition yesterday) even if they do need to be trimmed a little. Meola Rd is a problem alright, especially that hill below the roundabout - when cycling up it I routinely take to the footpath to get out of the way of vehicles.

    Cox’s Creek • Since Apr 2011 • 60 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    Meola Road hill has been shocking for years. They are currently working on it, but I think it is just to raise the kerbs, and is likely to leave the metre near the kerb in a worse state than ever. I always switch onto the footpath just after the Scout Den because the road surface is so uneven.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    Not that it is really any consolation, but for a couple of years (perhaps it still is), there was a seam between the parking seal and the roadway seal in the "perfect" spot in the middle of the bike lane where ideally you'd run your tyre (SH1 North - Dunedin). And every time you'd hit it, instead of riding over it, it'd track you along its line. Luckily for me, is/was not on the bit I use/d routinely.

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    Meola Road hill has been shocking for years. They are currently working on it, but I think it is just to raise the kerbs, and is likely to leave the metre near the kerb in a worse state than ever.

    Yes, it's just the kerbs as part of the footpath upgrade and yes, it's rough asphalt patches slapped on a degraded road that's gone unfixed for years. It's just weird.

    I always switch onto the footpath just after the Scout Den because the road surface is so uneven.

    I do sometimes too, but it's hardly ideal to have to ride on the footpath because a busy road hasn't been repaired for years.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to James Green,

    And every time you’d hit it, instead of riding over it, it’d track you along its line.

    That's just such a dumb thing to do. Road engineers should be made to ride their own cycle lanes.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ken Sparks,

    it's hardly ideal to have to ride on the footpath

    No it isn't but it's also quite easy not to mow down pedestrians on your bike too!

    Cox’s Creek • Since Apr 2011 • 60 posts Report Reply

  • John Holley,

    Is it 3 down to pedestrian crossing (Pt Chev) and 2 lights controlled crossings (city side and MOTAT side)? The graphic isn't explicit.

    This is our route (including Miss 6) to Western Springs from Kingsland so some clarity would be great.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Salmon,

    I'd like to see the trees stay too, but there really does seem to be a 1 step forward 2 step back element to any cycling progress in the city, & i agree the soccer morning insanity is crazy, and there again the problem is compounded by facilities not providing secure bike racks. How hard can it be...

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Holley,

    Is it 3 down to pedestrian crossing (Pt Chev) and 2 lights controlled crossings (city side and MOTAT side)? The graphic isn’t explicit.

    That's how it looks to me. One pedestrian crossing (for which cars must stop) and two lights-controlled crossings, down from three pedestrian crossings and two lights-controlled. There's quite a loss of pedestrian rights in it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    to ease the transition to the new bridge

    Where's the problem they are trying to fix, exactly?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ken Sparks, in reply to Sacha,

    Where's the problem they are trying to fix, exactly?

    In their heads I suspect...

    Cox’s Creek • Since Apr 2011 • 60 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Welch,

    As a seasoned cyclist I loathe that St. Lukes Intersection. I routinely bypass it by riding the Motat Tram tracks; they'd make such a good cycleway if it weren't for the odd tram :-)

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tim Welch,

    As a seasoned cyclist I loathe that St. Lukes Intersection. I routinely bypass it by riding the Motat Tram tracks; they’d make such a good cycleway if it weren’t for the odd tram :-)

    You tram-hating monster! ;-)

    I have to ride through it all the time, and more particularly I have to turn right to go over the overbridge. I ride hard and look to get to the front of the queue on the other side, but it's not for the faint of heart.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Welch, in reply to Russell Brown,

    it’s not for the faint of heart.

    That describes cycling in Auckland in general...

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ken Sparks,

    Where’s the problem they are trying to fix, exactly?

    In their heads I suspect…

    The upgrades are all focused on adding capacity in time for the opening of the tunnel in 2017, and that really is necessary. The widening of the bridge will help mitigate the "stacking" of vehicles trying to turn right onto the motorway west.

    But some communications I've seen do underline that the engineers' sole focus is on getting motorised traffic through faster, rather than impact on place (or, really, any consideration of place at all). The engineers want the trees gone so they can put in two left-turning lanes.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    I've always wondered why they don't take cyclists and pedestrians under the road, particularly at intersections like the St Lukes overbridge. It's a method used in Davis CA a lot, essentially a very big drain pipe gets laid under the road and becomes a safe path for bikes.

    It's particularly good in places like St Lukes where you want to raise the road up to the bridge anyway. A couple of tunnels at each end of the bridge would make life a lot safer for bikes and pedestrians and might make the actual bridge crossing for bikes easier to design.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    But some communications I’ve seen do underline that the engineers’ sole focus is on getting motorised traffic through faster

    One way to do that is to totally separate pedestrians and bikes from cars and trucks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    There’s quite a loss of pedestrian rights

    Silly Russell. Pedestrians don't have rights, they merely have allowances that interfere with the passage of the true rights-holders: automobiles.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    totally separate pedestrians and bikes from cars and trucks.

    But the cost, Bart! And the loss of precious road space!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Attachment

    One way to do that is to totally separate pedestrians and bikes from
    cars and trucks.

    ...and buses, let the vehicles fight it out...

    the above pic is from the excellent Buswatchnz site

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Welch, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I've always wondered why they don't take cyclists and pedestrians under the road, particularly at intersections like the St Lukes overbridge. It's a method used in Davis CA a lot, essentially a very big drain pipe gets laid under the road and becomes a safe path for bikes.

    I'd love to know the answer to this as well; surely it would be a simple and inexpensive solution to separating cyclists\pedestrians from motorized vehicles.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    engineers’ sole focus is on getting motorised traffic through faster

    that’s their profession’s lone KPI, yes
    #flow

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    The widening of the bridge will help mitigate the “stacking” of vehicles trying to turn right onto the motorway west.

    That I understand, but raising the road? I've never seen drivers struggling with it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    That I understand, but raising the road? I’ve never seen drivers struggling with it.

    That's the explanation I got. As a cyclist, I wouldn't want steep bridges either, tbh.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I thought they might even be thinking of cyclists..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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