KEY POINTS:
Aucklanders' battle for road space has erupted into a bitter dispute in Mt Albert, where residents are upset at a council plan to displace parking spaces with a cycle lane.
Residents of one side of Mt Albert Rd fear becoming endangered pedestrians, forced to dodge fast traffic to reach their own cars parked on the other side.
But Auckland City staff say they have been at pains to preserve as many parking spaces as possible in efforts to accommodate all road users, and that slightly narrower lanes for cars will improve everyone's safety by slowing traffic.
The council initially planned to abolish all parking along the northern side of Mt Albert Rd between New North Rd and Sandringham Rd - about 2km - but relented against an outcry by more than 100 residents complaining they were not consulted properly.
An amended proposal, accepted by the Eden-Albert Community Board despite continuing objections due to be reinforced before the city council's transport committee tomorrow, involves the preservation of 61 out of 174 parking spaces on the southern side.
Senior transport planner Daniel Newcombe says the council intends preserving spaces where flush median strips can be removed to make room, in what he describes as "a suitable compromise" between residents' concerns and the city's strategic goal of increasing cycling opportunities.
He said yesterday that cycle lanes running along both sides of Mt Albert Rd would be part of an expanding network and were designed to link up with established lanes which the council plans to widen along part of Carrington Rd, a main feeder to the Northwestern Cycleway.
But residents' spokesman Steve Johnson says most saved spaces will be east of Owairaka Rd, leaving just 16 along a 1km stretch from the Mt Albert shops in New North Rd.
He said cyclists could choose other routes, but the plan left residents with no option but "to run the gauntlet" to reach parking on the other side.
"We believe the plan is flawed and dangerous," he said in a letter to council members, in which he accused the community board of betraying residents. "If it is so dangerous for cyclists now, why create a situation where more pedestrians have to face what is universally regarded as a dangerous road?"
Mr Johnson said the plan would defeat its purpose of safeguarding cyclists, as those riding west along a lane on the southern side of Mt Albert Rd would be jammed between two lanes of peak-time traffic along a clearway near New North Rd.
He told the Herald he had nothing against cyclists, but they should be encouraged to ride on quieter roads.
Mr Newcombe said there was a lack of alternative through routes, and the 1.8m-wide cycle lane along the southern side of Mt Albert Rd would give those who already rode in the clearway more room and higher visibility.
He said the lane on the northern side of the road would vary from 1.4m where it followed the kerb to 1.8m where cars were allowed to park, keeping riders clear of their doors.
The predominance of parking spaces east of Owairaka Rd was because there were fewer side-streets in that sector, making it safer to remove flush median strips.
"I would love to provide parking outside Mr Johnson's house - but he needs to be aware it is an arterial road and we have to manage these for the use of all road users," Mr Newcombe said. He pointed to Balmoral Rd as an example of an arterial route where no parking was allowed.
Cycle Action Auckland chairman Bevan Woodward said there was a large "latent" demand for cycling, but too many people were discouraged by perceived dangers.
"We are trying to promote bike lanes so a lot more Aucklanders will cycle. There will be fewer cars and it will therefore be safer for everybody."
