Safety concerns with Rangiora cycle route
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
A proposed cycle way in Rangiora has been approved for further consultation, despite safety concerns.
The Waimakariri District Council’s utilities and roading committee has chosen Railway Rd as the preferred route over Southbrook Rd, as it looks to link the Passchendaele Pathway (between Kaiapoi and Rangiora) with the Rangiora town centre.
The proposed route would head up Railway Rd, along Torlesse and Coronation streets and up Ellis Rd.
But Pak’nSave store owner James Flanagan and Foodstuffs South Island Ltd property development manager Rebecca Parish said following Railway Road past the supermarket was ‘‘the wrong option’’.
In a deputation to Tuesday’s (April 18) committee meeting, Flanagan said up to 10 large, 2.9 metre wide trucks made deliveries to Pak’nSave each day via Railway Rd.
The lack visibility for truck drivers made it unsafe for cyclists, he said.
‘‘The council is making a decision over funding, rather than safety.’’
The project was being funded through the Government’s Transport Choices funding package, which required all works to be completed by June 2024.
But senior engineering adviser Don Young said the safety concerns could be mitigated.
He suggested making Railway Rd one-way, widening the road, and installing signage and flashing lights to warn cyclists of trucks.
The only other viable route would involve crossing the railway line at Marsh Rd and crossing back further up, but this would require agreement from KiwiRail, he said.
Council staff had approached KiwiRail and been advised it could take ‘‘years to complete’’, following KiwiRail processes due to staff shortages.
‘‘We don’t have that timeframe with the funding we have, but we could look at it for the long-term plan,’’ Young said.
Councillors voted to authorise staff to proceed with detailed design and consultation with businesses in the area and other stakeholders.
A road safety audit will be completed and a report will be presented to the utilities and roading committee in July.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
48.1% Yes
-
50% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Here's Thursday's thinker!
I am lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift me. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Loading…
