Cycle Action Waikato still has concerns about SH23 ‘safety’ work proposed by Safe Roads. This work is known as the Safe Roads Alliance Project on SH23 Hamilton to Whatawhata to Raglan.
Peter Bos from Cycle Action Waikato met with Safe Roads representatives, Evan Freshwater and Erik van der Wel, on Friday 2nd March to discuss the concerns.
Following that meeting Cycle Action Waikato sent the following memo to Safe Roads:
Safe Roads Alliance Project SH23 Hamilton to Whatawhata to Raglan
Thanks for your time on Friday 2nd March 2018 to meet with me.
First words:
For weaker road users the proposed design is Dangerous by design. A safe system approach accepts people make mistakes. The proposed mistake allowance is below zero in many places.
Main points:
- CAW expects the slowing of traffic by design to a safe speed and the providing pedestrian islands where children cross
- Narrower cycle lanes [are] three to four times less safe than wider cycle lanes
- CAW asks the designer of road to recommend speed review in writing to Elected officials for SH23 & roads local to Te Araroa route West of Hamilton. WDC & Cc HCC
- CAW Supports NZTA building 3m wide shared-use path separated from high speed traffic, along SH23 from Hamilton past/to Whatawhata/Raglan
Feed back with references:
- OF MOST SERIOUS CONCERN – CHILDREN CROSSINGS
Where we know children are crossing the road (SH23), we all have a moral duty to take an uncompromising Vision Zero approach.
‘Life and health [of children] can never be exchanged for other benefits within the society’
CAW expects the slowing of traffic by design to a safe speed and the providing pedestrian islands where children cross.
Guiding Reference: Vision Zero NYC (slide22) – The Science of Safe Streets
- New crosswalks where people want to cross
- Shorter crossing distances pedestrian islands
- Clearer lane marking
- SERIOUS CONCERN – SHOULDER WIDTH
“Narrower cycle lanes [are] three to four times less safe than wider cycle lanes.” (page 9) NZTA report 389 Cycle Safety: Reducing the Crash Risk: October 2009
Guiding references
“A one-way cycle-track of 2.00 m or narrower is not a good cycling-facility”
CROW Design manual for a cycle-friendly infrastructure 1996 (Table 4.3*)
Copenhagen guidelines for the design of road projects – Focus on cycling
Chapter 2 Cycle tracks: Minimum width of a Copenhagen cycle track is 2.2 m
On individual sections, where there is only enough space for a very narrow cycle track (1.7-1.8 m), the cycle track may be installed if planners decide that cyclist safety, security and pass-ability taken as a whole would be improved in relation to the current situation.
- SERIOUS CONCERN – SPEED, SHARED RESPONSIBILITY & SAFE SYSTEM
- Our bodies have a limited ability to withstand crash forces without being seriously injured or killed.
- Those who design the road system … share responsibility for creating a road system where crash forces don’t result in death or serious injury.
“The optimal speed limit on an urban street is the lowest limit the political decision makers can accept” http://www.trafikdage.dk/td/papers/papers04/Trafikdage-2004-339.pdf
CAW asks the designer of road to recommend speed review in writing to Elected officials for SH23 & road local to Te Araroa route West of Hamilton. WDC & Cc HCC
- IN SUPPORT
When People go driving, biking, walking with a friend they will always what to be side by side, this is normal for all modes of traffic.
CAW Supports NZTA building 3m wide shared-use path separated from high speed traffic, along SH23 from Hamilton past/to Whatawhata/Raglan
CAW expects off-road path widths to be designed for social walking and biking, like driver get.
Last words:
The Hamilton – Whatawhata – Raglan is an irresistible ride and destination. But speed & behaviour of motorist is scary, making it a once in a life time ride. Build it safe and more will ride, multiplying safety with safety in numbers.