The content on this page was accurate at the time of the traffic resolution consultation, and some changes were made to the project as a result of community feedback. We've kept this page to make sure we are being transparent about our process and to show how the project has developed. The main project page is the most up to date place, and more information about the Council's decision can be found in the meeting minutes.
The aim of Wellington’s bike network plan is to create a citywide network of connected bike routes to improve safety for people on bikes, increase the role of cycling in the transport network, and improve environmental and health outcomes. At the same time, we look to make improvements for people who walk and catch the bus.
Our transport planners developed a long list of possible options for how we could improve the streets and connections in Kilbirnie, looking at things from a range of perspectives, thinking about all the possibilities and what could be achieved in line with best practice and national guidelines.
Plans have been reviewed by various internal and external stakeholders including Waka Kotahi, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and cycling, walking and accessibility representatives.
For the length of Tacy Street, the options were whittled down to a short list of five viable options:
Option 1 was selected. It wasn’t the highest scoring but as it’s envisaged most people on bikes will use the planned shared path connection alongside the sports centre, it was seen as a good way to provide an alternative bike connection, make the street safer for everyone, and minimise the impact on parking.
The sports centre shared path will provide the safer option for most people on bikes. All options included improvements for pedestrians.
Once it was determined a connection through the sports centre was a viable alternative to Tacy Street, and could be delivered by Let's Get Wellington Moving, we looked at two options:
Option 2 scored the highest and we’ve gone with this. It’s completely off-road, provides a dedicated shared space for people on bikes, scooters and on foot, will connect with a planned new crossing across Kemp Street to an existing shared path to Rongotai Road, and has minimal impact on the sports centre car park.
There were four viable options for this section of Coutts Street:
Option 1 scored the highest. It provides protected bike lanes in both directions to improve safety and encourage more people to ride. This option retains some parking, and connects well with the painted lanes planned at the quieter end of Coutts Street near the underpass and the separated bikes lanes planned on Tirangi Road north of Leonie Gill pathway. It improves safety around Rongotai College.
There were four viable options for this section of Coutts Street:
Option 4 scored the highest but option 3 was selected as the width of the road makes it unsuitable for a shared zone. It was selected as traffic volumes are low. Waka Kotahi guidance recommends bike lanes in this environment. The painted buffer will help protect people on bikes from car doors opening. It includes some minor parking changes to improve safety and discourage airport-related long-stay parking.
There were four viable options for this section of Tirangi Road:
Option 1 was the safest and highest scoring option. It will provide protection for people riding in both directions, and is consistent with changes planned on the busy section of Coutts Street west of the roundabout. Surveys showed demand for parking in this section is low. The area near the roundabout had the highest number of crashes involving cars and bikes of any section in Kilbirnie so making it safer by providing more protection for people on bikes and encouraging slower speeds was important.
There were six viable options for this section of Onepu Road:
Option 5 was the safest and highest scoring option. It will help encourage more people to go by bike. The median strip provides space for right-turning vehicles into supermarket car parks and space where drivers can check for people on bikes and on foot. A survey of off-street parking showed that it is never at or over capacity – so this and parking in adjacent streets should meet demand. There was a serious crash involving several people on bikes on this section of road due to a driver not being able to see around parked vehicles. This solution will remove this safety issue.
There were five viable options for this section of Onepu Road:
Option 2 was the highest scoring and safest option. It meets Waka Kotahi guidelines for roads with this much traffic (painted bike lanes don’t). The safety improvements can be made whilst retaining parking on one side. Over 90 percent of properties have some off-street parking, and there is on-street parking capacity in adjacent streets.
Things that were considered through the options assessment included safety and comfort for people on bikes, safety for people walking, bus improvements, street and vehicle widths, intersections, the impacts of lower speeds, loading and servicing requirements, and the effects on parking availability.
Things that were not progressed to the short list included using other routes and digging up kerbs to widen the street.
For more, you can read the full Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) report