Two cyclists lucky not to be killed
An accident that left two cyclists bruised and lucky to be alive has resulted in a call for improvements to a narrow section of State Highway 2 just north of Melling.
Belmont resident and Hutt Cycling Network member Elaine Richardson came across the two cyclists on the side of the road last Tuesday morning.
‘‘One was quite badly grazed and the other guy said he felt the truck brush his leg … they were damn lucky to be alive.’’
Richardson had previously lobbied NZTA, and the regional and city councils about the stretch of road without success.
Heading south towards Wellington, the road narrows to a pinch point and she said cyclists were at risk every time they used it.
The New Zealand Transport Agency is currently seeking feedback on the Petone to Melling section of the Wellington to Hutt Valley Walking and Cycling Link.
The link would create a purposebuilt facility for cyclists between the Melling and Wellington railway stations.
It includes a $35 million shared pathway for cyclists and walkers on reclaimed land on the seaward side of the railway line between Ngauranga and Petone.
Caitlin Carew cycles from Belmont to Wellington three times a week and is supportive of anything that encourages more cyclists to commute.
She is, however, concerned about the area where the two cyclists had an accident. Although it is outside the area covered by the proposed Wellington to Melling trail, she said it needed fixing.
‘‘It is an uncomfortable feeling having cars pass you because you are so close.’’
Carew wanted NZTA to look at the section of the road as part of the Melling to Wellington project.
Cycling advocate Jo Clendon agreed the area was unsafe and needed fixing.
Finding a solution was likely to be difficult and she hoped it could be included in the RiverLink project, upgrading stopbanks and possibly building a new Melling Bridge.
That would involve major changes to the entire Melling area and would be the best time to make SH2 safer for cyclists, she said.
A quick solution would be to upgrade the Hutt River Trail, which was currently too rough for road bikes.
NZTA and the regional council are working on plans to upgrade the stopbanks and possibly put in a Melling Bridge. She hoped the issue of making it safer for cyclists north of Melling could be addressed as part of that project.
An NZTA spokesperson said the agency was concerned to hear about the Tuesday accident.
‘‘This section of road is constrained by the local geography – with a hill on one side of the road and a river on the other it’s not possible to add shoulders to the roadway.’’
Although the Hutt River Trail was an alternative option for cyclists, NZTA was aware it was not suitable for high-speed road cyclists.
Finding a solution was not, however, related to RiverLink as it was unlikely that the flood protection work would add width to the state highway corridor, he said.
Submissions on the Petone to Melling section of the cycle/ walkway close on May 31. To make a submission go to NZTA website
‘‘One was quite badly grazed and the other guy said he felt the truck brush his leg … they were damn lucky to be alive.’’