Short-Term Safety Moves For Waterfront Cyclists

They’re the first few official steps to help cyclists and motorists get along safer on the Auckland waterfront – but for now they are only short term or temporary ones.

A warning sign at the Ngapipi Rd/Tamaki Drive intersection, which can be activated by cyclists to warn oncoming cars of the cyclist’s presence is one of the first steps being taken to improve safety on Tamaki Drive.

A number of short term options will be in place by Christmas, and the Auckland city council’s Transport Committee promises to consider much-needed longer term suggestions at its February meeting.

Other short term moves are:

• encouraging cyclists and walkers to ring the council call line (379-2020) if they see any hazards like broken glass on the road or footpath – council will remove the debris.
• Temporary signs with appropriate road safety messages about the shared use of Tamaki Drive.
• New road safety information and education material, including a Tamaki Drive road user protocol.
• Ongoing advocacy to the Police to do additional enforcement of all red light runners ( both cyclists and car drivers)at the Patteson Ave/Tamaki Drive intersection.

These follow the meetings between concerned and interested groups following the recent smash involving a car and a bunch of cyclists on Tamaki Drive. But a long way is needed to go before cyclists feel safe and anti-cyclist motorists’ tempers abate.