City cycle link short on signage
More signage is required to direct cyclists along a short but important Auckland city cycleway.
The $7.1 million Beach Rd cycleway connects inner city cyclists travelling from the waterfront up to Grafton Gully and into the city.
The connection with the Quay St cycleway makes it possible to ride from the ferry terminal to Henderson via the Northwestern cycleway. Since it opened in 2015 109,086 cyclists have used the two way, 1.5 kilometre route.
I rate this cycleway 9/10 because it is a safe, secure and well constructed route, however signage could be improved.
The cycleway is physically separate from traffic by raised kerbs. It is located in a high density area with pedestrians, cars and bicycles using the space leading in and out the CBD.
The route starts at the end of the Quay St cycleway on Auckland’s waterfront near Britomart. It crosses Quay St, onto Tapora St then Mahuhu Cres. From here it is possible to take a left or right hand turn onto Beach Rd. The right hand turn will take you along Beach Rd toward the city centre and Britomart. By turning left from Mahuhu Cres onto Beach Rd the cycleway leads to and ends at the beginning of the Grafton Gully cycleway on Churchill St.
A reasonable amount of guess work is needed in the first section of the cycle route due to limited signs.
Along the route there is a mix of intersections, either cycle signal controlled or unsignaled and unmarked intersections. I saw very few cyclists adhere to stop signals, instead choosing to ride through red signal lights, putting other users of the space at risk.
The cycleway separates bikes and walkers, but during the review ride, some walkers walked along or stepped across the cycling designated cycleway adding to the risk of collision. Some cyclists were travelling at speed on the road in preference to using the cycleway. Care should be taken at all times on this ride because there are sections where vehicles can turn off the road and across the cycleway into driveways.
When the Nelson St cycleway is completed this year it will connect with the Quay St cycleway that connects on to the Beach Rd cycleway, forming the final link in the city centre cycle loop making it possible to ride around the inner city.