Takapuna to Devonport cycle lane

June 2008

This is the busiest cycle route in North Shore City and the lane, which is on both sides of the road, provides greater safety for cyclists. Their installation on Lake Road is a key part of the Council’s Cycle Strategy, which is part of a regional project to support alternative transport to cars.

However the Lake Road lanes are now under review.

The Devonport Community Board supports the Lake Road Cycle Lane project. The board has been closely involved with its development and had input to a considerable number of design changes made to address community concerns about the impact of the lanes on other traffic.

In the period since the lanes became operational (last November) there has been a lot of public comment both for and against them. The most common complaint is that some of the road space now dedicated for cyclists was formerly available to vehicle traffic and that this has resulted in queuing and delays not experienced previously.

From the time the new cycle lanes were first installed a series of changes have been made to the signal phasing and these have improved traffic flows.

However Council received a petition from residents opposed to the cycle lanes and, as a result, it carried out a survey of bus journey times between Hauraki Corner and Devonport before and after the cycle lanes were installed. The survey found that even in the morning and evening peak periods, average bus journey times were very little different from a year earlier. However there has continued to be a wide range of journey times, which can vary between five and 30 minutes.

This range of travel times indicates that, although traffic patterns are very little different from before the cycle lanes were installed, there is significant congestion and, because Lake Road is a major transportation corridor, improvements need to be made where possible.

Lake Road corridor improvements
Council officers have investigated a range of possible improvements to traffic flow between Hauraki Corner and Belmont. However the Council has decided not to proceed any further with any changes until the planned review of the Strategic Cycle Plan has been completed.

Viability of using off-road cycleways instead of the existing on-road cycleways
The viability of removing the on-road cycle lanes between Winscombe Street and Belmont and substituting these with off-road shared use pedestrian / cycle paths has been investigated. The conclusion reached was that to promote regular cycle commuting, on-road cycle lanes are needed to provide direct routes and allow travel speeds that make cycling an attractive and safe alternative to other forms of transport.

This is consistent with the goals of the council’s Cycle Strategy which are to:

• improve safety for cyclists
• improve convenience for cyclists
• improve enjoyment of cycling
• increase the number of people cycling to work
• increase the number of children cycling to school.
  

A rough cost estimate for restoration of the former road markings between Winscombe Street and Belmont and the construction of a shared off-road cycle path is $205,000. This does not include the cost of undergrounding power lines.

For further information

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