Share misery
Vocal and unhappy Brook St residents could see a u-turn on the council’s recent change the road layout.
Concrete build-outs and ‘‘share with care’’ signage have just been installed, to encourage cars to give way to cyclists funnelled into the middle of the road.
However, after receiving public feedback and complaints, Nelson City Council has now posted on its Facebook page ‘‘unfortunately, the concrete surrounding the signs is causing issues for cyclists and motorists alike’’.
It’s also stated ’’sometimes we get things right, and other times we don’t’’ and announced a safety audit would be carried out.
A Neighbourly poll revealed 66 per cent of respondents felt the changes would ‘‘put cyclists at greater risk’’.
The poll found 23 per cent thought them to be positive step to help motorists and cyclists share Brook St, while 10 per cent said they were undecided.
The council will now assess the safety of the changes, before deciding whether the concrete will be removed.
Nelson Mountain Bike Club secretary Paul Jennings said they hoped the community reaction might prompt more ‘‘robust’’ consultation by the council for any future cycle infrastructure projects.
He said there were a variety of road users to consider on Brook St, and already the road was narrow, forcing cars and cyclists to share.
‘‘Generally when Im riding along there, I’m riding in a rela- tively big group of friends who I’m going mountainbiking with, so that’s not conducive to narrow roads either,’’ Jennings said.
‘‘I understand that bikes and cars on that very narrow bit of road are competing for space, there’s nowhere for either of them to go at the moment.’’
He said the installed concrete didn’t seem to be helping, and were forcing bikes to move into the middle of the road.
‘‘Cars have to slow down or they will run over bikes. The trouble is sometimes that car isn’t going to slow down, or isn’t going to expect the bike to move out.’’
He said he could imagine cars would likely speed up between the build-outs to get past cyclists.
‘‘To make most of the opportunity, and then again reaching this pinch spot but possibly with even more speed. I don’t know what a cyclist does in that situation. It’s all well and good having the right of way, but it doesn’t matter when you’re under a car.’’
The council is conducting its independent safety audit, and consulting with interest groups including Bicycle Nelson Bays, before it makes a decision as to whether it will reverse any changes to the road layout.