Most said "yes", with some saying "wear a headlamp" or "eat your carrots".
Bruno Gilmour, senior landscape architect with Whangarei District Council, said the most recent tests showed there was still a gas issue with the ducts laid for the Hatea Loop and Pohe Island lighting.
He said the methane being produced underneath the decomposing clay-capped landfill was looking for the easiest way to the surface and efforts to prevent it from rising through the electrical ducts had not been successful.
"When the escaping methane meets oxygen, it is combustible."
He said the ducts would have to be completely airtight and the council was still looking into how it would fix the issue, such as closing up the ducts with expandable material.
"Implications are that, when electrical cables are installed, the ducts will have to be back-filled to prevent gas entering the duct, and a mechanism for preventing the gas reaching the connection to the light fixture will have to be in place," he said.
"We would love to be able to light the entire area, so people can use it day and night."
Solar panels would work, he said, although the initial capital investment would be significantly higher.
Paul Dell, group manager district living with the council said the gas issue was impacting on electrical systems but confirmed lighting would not be completed until possibly next year.
"We have in place the conduit and bases for the lighting on Pohe but will probably not install them until the 2016/17 financial year."
"At this stage we have no plans for lighting this area.
"This, however, will be reviewed as we assess the use of the area."
Erin Bowling of Onerahi said she got stuck on the dark walkway one night: "I had run around half the loop when it started to get really dark.
"I rang my fiance and made him come and pick me up as I felt so unsafe running by myself.
"There are a few of us who run in big groups in the morning but it would be great to be able to use the track by yourself in the mornings or in the evening.
"I loved using the loop in summer - there were hundreds of people on the loop on summer evenings," she said.
"In winter, the track - especially by the old BMX track - is dark by 6pm which makes it unsafe to go for a walk or run after work," she said.
Her mate Alesha Wall agreed and said she will only run the loop with a group of friends now.
"It needs proper lighting the whole way around."
The council was already starting work on a toilets at Pohe Island and had, however, called for creative ideas - from cafes to bicycle hire - to upgrade the walkway.
