Tag: Consultation

Safer speeds? What’s happening to speed limits in Papanui?

Update March 2025: the information in the article below was correct at the time of publication (October 2023). The change of central Government that occurred shortly after publication has had a significant impact on the City Council’s speed programme. Specifically, the changes approved for Papanui and Redwood in July 2023 have never been implemented, and the Safer Speed Plan is no longer being considered (see the Council website for details).

October 2023: Speed limits on some Papanui streets were reduced earlier this year, further speed reductions have been approved already and will be implemented soon, and at the time of writing there’s consultation open on a further round of proposed changes. Read on for a recap of what’s already been implemented, and what changes are now on the table.

Lower speed limits: live-saving? Or an excessive extension of travel time?

Simon Kingham is the Chief Science Advisor to the Ministry of Transport and is a Professor of Human Geography at Canterbury University. In an article published on the University’s website he explains the lower risk of injury or death when a person is hit by a slower-moving vehicle, and how greenhouse gas and nitrogen dioxide emissions are reduced at lower speeds.

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Council confirms overwhelming support for Wheels to Wings cycleway: 236 submitters say #LetsGetOnWithIt, 27 agree with delay

Further to my article last month (Strong cycleway support in Annual Plan submissions), here’s a more formal analysis of submissions on the Wheels to Wings cycleway contained in feedback on the Council’s draft Annual Plan, as provided by the Council’s Monitoring & Research unit.

In total 816 submissions were received on the Annual Plan, and 304 of these give feedback on the proposal “not to begin construction on the Wheels to Wings cycleway for 12 months”. 236 submissions oppose a delay, while just 27 submissions support.

Continue reading “Council confirms overwhelming support for Wheels to Wings cycleway: 236 submitters say #LetsGetOnWithIt, 27 agree with delay”

Strong cycleway support in Annual Plan submissions

Over the past week the Christchurch City Council has been hearing submissions on the city’s draft Annual Plan, and feedback on cycleways, including the Wheels to Wings – Papanui ki Waiwhetū major cycle route, is overwhelmingly positive.

A photo taken on Harewood Rd from a bike mounted camera showing a close pass from a driver towing a trailer. This image accompanied my Facebook post encouraging people to submit on the Annual Plan in general and on the Wheels to Wings in particular.

Last year I wrote to clarify that during the two rounds of public consultation on the Wheels to Wings, only a minority of submissions opposed the project. “How terrible it would be for the community to be denied the cycleway on the basis of this minority opposition?” I said at the time.

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Keep Calm and Cycle On: only a minority opposed the Wheels to Wings cycleway

Is the Wheels to Wings – Papanui ki Waiwhetū major cycle route really ‘controversial’, or even ‘very controversial’, as some recent headlines* claimed, following the July decision of the council to approve the cycleway’s scheme design? The evidence suggests otherwise.

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Does the Council ever listen? Why yes, yes it does.

Commentary: A comment that often seems to be made in relation to public engagement with the Christchurch City Council is “what’s the point?”. Here are three examples illustrating the benefits of getting involved and giving feedback.

Continue reading “Does the Council ever listen? Why yes, yes it does.”