Gradual growth in use of new city cycleways

DUNEDIN’S cycleways appear to be recording a slow but steady increase in use.

Figures released by the Dunedin City Council and the NZ Transport Agency show numbers have increased on most cycleways.

However, the NZTA’s new cycleway in Great King St has not recorded an increase on 2016 figures, while the council’s Victoria Rd cycleway has recorded a 7% drop in use.

The NZTA has a cycle counter in Cumberland and Great King Sts.

Project team manager Simon Underwood said while there had been no ‘‘startling increase’’ in numbers, there was an increase in cyclists using the cycleways, despite them being only finished in March, as the weather grew colder.

The greatest increase was in Cumberland St opposite Countdown, which was up about 30% from 2016.

The peak day since the cycleway was completed was 236 cyclists on May 1 this year

The daily average for a weekday in July this year was 130 cyclists.

Great King St was on a par with 2016 numbers, the peak day being April 8 having 254 cyclists.

The daily average for a weekday in July was 108.

Mr Underwood said he hoped as summer approached more people would try out the new system.

The council’s cycleways had recorded increases ranging from 5% to 9% between 2015 and 2019, transport planning team leader Susan Lilley said.

The council has six counters in the city.

‘‘Our data shows cycling numbers in Dunedin are going up; most cycleways saw a rise in cyclists between 2015 and 2019.’’

The biggest increase was on the harbourside shared path between Ravensbourne and St Leonards at 9%, although the number of cyclists using the Harbour and Portsmouth Dr paths had increased every year between 2015 and 2018.

Work on the Portsmouth Dr path meant the counter was not operating for a period from June last year.

The Portsmouth Dr and North Rd cycleways showed 7% and 5% increases respectively.