Traffic challenge proves too great

The brakes have been applied to a popular Nelson cycle ride, let down by pumped-up running costs.

Organisers of the Abel Tasman Cycle Challenge have announced that the race will not proceed in 2018 due to mounting costs for traffic management planning (TMP) and compliance.

The event was conceived by Nelson motorsport driver John McIntyre in 2016 as a way of creating a participationfriendly ride in Nelson for individuals and teams.

The inaugural race attracted 600 riders who made the 158km journey from Saxton Field in Stoke to Kaiteriteri and back.

McIntyre did not want to disclose the actual amount of TMP-related costs, but said they were in the ‘‘tens of thousands’’.

‘‘If you have a look in the industry, the costs of traffic management are just increasing the whole time,’’ he said.

‘‘So if you don’t see a huge shift in sales, then you’re unable to cover it and it becomes commercially non-viable.’’

Early bird entry for the 158km solo ride cost $79 in 2016 but increased to $109 last year.

‘‘You’ve got to be able to meet the market and provide value,’’ McIntyre said. ‘‘Those are key things that we’ve done in the previous two events, and to put up the price enough to cover the increase, we might not make it viable again.’’

The full course was run on sections of State Highway 60 between Riwaka and Richmond, as well as taking in stretches of road around the Moutere and Motueka valleys.

McIntyre had spent the last five months investigating possible changes to the course. However, the alternative road options ultimately made little difference in reducing the need for traffic management.

‘‘One of the key appeals of the event was that 100-mile aspect to it,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s not many of those left in New Zealand, and we didn’t just want to run another 100km or 70km on its own, so to draw in the visitors from out of town, we need to have something that’s going to grab their attention.’’

NZ Transport Agency system manager Frank Porter said any events or roadworks undertaken on state highways and local roads required traffic management in order to protect the lives of road users and the people involved in the event.

Following the standard Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM), this was the responsibility of the organiser to run a safe event and to the Road Controlling Authority – a council or NZTA – which approved the TMP.

Neither the Tasman District Council or NZTA charged for approving TMPs, Porter said.

‘‘Essentially, there has been no change in recent years – safety is paramount."

Further north, BDO Lake Taupo¯ Cycle Challenge media manager Hayden Dickason said that event had not been required to alter courses or the event in general as a result of traffic management.

‘‘Traffic management is a crucial component, which we budget for in order to deliver a safe event.’’

TDC community relations manager Chris Choat said that while the Abel Tasman Cycle Challenge warranted appropriate resources being invested, he appreciated that the route taken by riders was a key part of the event experience.

‘‘Some of the roads used in the event get a lot of traffic, and if the necessary measures aren’t in place, you’ll get a lot of angry people or someone may hurt themselves, and that’s the last thing anyone wants.’’

Despite the brakes going on the event just two years into its existence, McIntyre said he was proud of what his team had achieved for the region, with over 1250 participants getting to ride some of the best roads in the country.