Bay cycle path taking shape

A cycle trail in Golden Bay is nearing completion, more than 20 years after it was first mooted.

For the past month, work has been continuing on a cycle trail connecting Pohara and Takaka. It is expected to be completed early next year.

Just over 50 per cent of the route has been finished. The cycleway follows Abel Tasman Drive from Motupipi and Meihana St to Selwyn St in Pohara.

The route, which was the top priority of the Golden Bay Cycle and Walkway Society’s 20-yearplan, was given the go-ahead for development by the Tasman District Council and the NZ Transport Agency.

Co-ordinator Debbie Pearson said there had been a great response to the project from the public.

She said the society had previously carried out a survey of Golden Bay residents and visitors, with 98 per cent of respondents saying they would ride more if there was better cycling infrastructure in the area.

‘‘There’s so many people on it already – it’s fantastic.

‘‘There has been so much suppressed demand. The roads are super-narrow at the moment, and we knew there were so many who would ride if it was a bit safer.’’

Golden Bay resident and cyclist Jane Baird said the cycle route was ‘‘well overdue’’.

‘‘It’s so good to see it. It’s incredible how well it’s going already.

‘‘We bike all around Golden Bay, and there’s a lot of us who live down Tata Beach and Pohara way. We’ve had so many scares on the road – we badly needed this track.’’

A section of the path from the Motupipi Butcher on Glenview Rd to the Motupipi Bridge was not finished, Baird said. Work on that would resume next month.

The cycle route has been a longstanding goal for many members of the Golden Bay community.

Cheryl Nadler said she was part of the first petition supporting the project to the Tasman council, along with Helen Bracefield and Victoria Davis, more than 20 years ago.

‘‘We took children from Takaka Primary School to the council meeting to say they wanted a safe cycle and walkway to be able to get to school. At the time, it was mainly about the children wanting to be able to ride their bikes or walk safely to school,’’ she said.

‘‘The population has increased since then, and there are a lot more people, including adults about on their bikes as well.’’

PHOTOS: OLGA ALTMAN Jane Baird and Debby Rogers on a section of the cycleway connecting Pohara and Takaka. Just over 50 per cent of the project has been finished.

Co-ordinator Debbie Pearson says there has been a ‘‘fantastic’’ response from Golden Bay residents to the new cycleway, which was first mooted more than 20 years ago.