‘Greenie’ queries cycle lane safety, locals negotiate parking
Parking has become so precious in Wellington’s Aro Valley that residents have taken to negotiating space with desperate neighbours.
The move follows the installation of a new uphill cycle lane from Willis St through Aro St and along Raroa Cr to Appleton Park in Karori, which resulted in about 70 car parks being removed along a 700m section of Aro St.
The area is a Green Party stronghold, with the Aro Valley Community Centre one of the Greens’ best polling booths.
But resident Graeme Tuckett, a self-described “lefty, Green voter of the highest order”, said the project had not only ruined the place for locals – many of whom did not have garages or off-street parking – but made the route more dangerous for cyclists, of which he is one.
Two neighbours had medical needs that required regular trips to the hospital. They could no longer park their cars outside their homes, he said.
“They both now have to walk some hundreds of metres to get to the nearest place so they can pack their own cars. And these are people who are so in such ill health, they need to attend hospital appointments at least every couple of weeks.”
Others with garages were “out of generosity” allowing neighbours to park in front of those at certain times “because they were so desperate for somewhere to park their car. “You would think you would be able to park within coo-ee of your own home.”
Tuckett, who cycles daily “rain or shine”, said the extent of the project had taken residents by surprise, and there had been little consultation with locals.
“I’ve been living at the same address for three years. I’m home most days I ride my bike most days. You would think that some at some point, I would have brushed up against the council's so-called consultation, I never saw any sign of it. I never saw anybody knocking on doors.
“If all they were doing was calling for submissions online then that’s a complete dereliction. That’s not consultation, that’s window dressing at best.”
Tuckett, who writes film reviews for Stuff, felt safer riding before the dedicated bike lane was installed after the introduction of traffic calming measures, including speed humps and a 30kmh speed limit, which in themselves created a safer environment.
He queried whether its designer even rode a bike. “I’ll ride in that cycle lane because it’s on the left hand side of the road, which is exactly where I’d be cycling anyway.
“But not only does it stop at several points, it forces you to swerve back into the path of whoever's sitting behind you. That then creates a pinch point which is where you are going to have accidents.
“It’s madness.”
Cycle Wellington spokesperson Patrick Morgan said all of Tuckett’s concerns had been extensively considered by the designers, safety auditors and city councillors.
The Aro St bike lane was a vital link in Wellington’s biking network, he said.
“Everyone in our community deserves safe streets. Most people dislike sharing lanes with busy traffic, so protected bike lanes are needed to provide security and confidence.
“I understand that new street layouts have an impact on residents, and that councillors considered all concerns, including safety, when approving the design.”
The council said it had worked closely with community groups and stakeholders to come up with the proposed design.
Those groups included the Aro Valley Community Council, the bus drivers’ union, Cycle Wellington, Living Streets Aotearoa, local businesses and New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
It had also provided two car-share parks in one street as an alternative to private car ownership.