Hopes pinned on cycleway working for all

Residents of Wellington’s Oriental Bay want to get their new cycle lane ‘‘right first time’’ to avoid a repeat of the troubled Island Bay cycleway.

The Wellington City Council has consulted with the community on cycleway ideas, whittling them down to two design options that it was now seeking public feedback on.

The designs, which will link the shared path with the proposed twoway bike path around Evans Bay, will be wider to accommodate the growing numbers of walkers, dogs, runners and cyclists.

Oriental Bay Residents’ Association president Andy Thomson said locals had initial concerns.

‘‘We wanted a balanced approach that recognised multiple users. Unlike Island Bay, we are trying to get it right first time and make it work for everyone.’’

The two options include creating a shared path between parked cars and pohutukawa trees on the seaward side of Oriental Parade, from Herd St to Freyberg Pool.

To make room, the kerb would be extended and would include an 800mm-wide buffer zone between the new path and parked vehicles.

One option would retain all parking and reduce the median flush, while the other would cut the number of parks in half.

Thomson said the latest designs were an improvement on the previous options, but it would be a difficult decision.

‘‘We are keen to see plenty of parking for visitors but also an adequate width median strip, and we are also keen to keep the cycleway closer to the trees.’’

Lambton ward councillor Nicola Young said the council must not repeat Island Bay’s mistakes by looking after pedestrians.

A public engagement period will run until November 13.

Artist impression of Option A, which would see angle parking changed to parallel parking, and would reduce the number of parking spaces by about half.