Future of well-used cycle lane in doubt

A residents' group says the Lake Rd cycle lane is a waste of $800,000 and contributes to traffic congestion. Photo / Dean Purcell

Removal of the Takapuna-Devonport cycle lanes is being considered despite a new count showing 332 cyclists used them daily in mid-winter.

Barbara Cuthbert, of Cycle Action Auckland, said the new figure showed the lanes were the most used in North Shore City and compared with 192 cyclists on the road before the lanes were put in two years ago.

"The lanes have been proven to do their job, without impeding the traffic flow."

But she said the city council's infrastructure committee refused to acknowledge this because it would be politically unpopular.

A petition with 2714 signatures was presented to the committee in June last year by the Cycle Lanes Action Review Association.

The committee deferred action on the residents group's call to scrap the lanes because of Lake Rd's traffic congestion until the city's cycle strategy was reviewed.

The review was adopted last month.

Yesterday, committee chairman Ken McKay said the future of the lanes was back on the agenda, because the residents' group demanded to know what the council was going to do about its petition.

He said the cycle strategy stated that cycle lanes should be part of any new road development.

The painting of cycle lanes on Lake Rd in 2007 was a mistake.

"To my mind a painted line does not make a cycle lane."

Despite council officers' recommendations, the chairman sought removal of the cycle lanes south of the road's busy intersection with Bardia St and Winscombe Ave.

He said that intersection, near two schools, was a "pinch spot" and work to ease traffic flows should be done before future upgrades of Lake Rd.

The committee asked officers to report back on the implications of the moves.

Mr McKay said the first question raised was whether removal of the lanes meant the council had to return a $400,000 subsidy it received from NZ Transport Agency for the work.

"Does the fact there are 300 cyclists and 30,000 motorists on that road make any difference to our stand?"

Public consultation would be needed over any decision to remove the lanes.

Dr John Reynolds, of the residents group, said that this time round councillors were more aware of public feeling that the lanes were a waste of $800,000.

"We're concerned that nothing has been done to improve traffic flow on Lake Rd and it's gone on for years and what has the council done? They've painted white lines on the road, making the options for motorists even narrower."

Dr Reynolds said the association argued for making Lake Rd four lanes wide as long as cycle lanes were separated from vehicles as in the Esmonde Rd intersection upgrade.