The Star: August 11, 2016

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Thursday August 11 2016 9
News
Cycling getting safer – survey
• By Shelley Robinson
PERCEPTIONS OF cycling
being a safe form of travel on the
city’s streets is the highest it has
been in five years – particularly
among students.
Environment Canterbury’s
2016 report on regional transport
showed that 76 per cent of
students, 15 years and older,
viewed cycling as a safe form of
transport, up from 45 per cent
last year, and 52 per cent in 2012.
Workers felt less safe cycling on
just 45 per cent, but this number
was up from 34 per cent in 2012.
About 55 per cent of residents
in the city can get to their place
of work by cycling, the survey
found, but according to the 2013
census only 7 per cent of workers
use pedal power regularly.
Cycling has been under
the spotlight in the city post-
February 22, 2011, earthquake,
with 10 deaths.
Spokes Canterbury chairman
Don Babe said the city council’s
$156 million cycleways project
has helped make cycling safer
around the city, especially the
partial opening of the Uni-Cycle
route that runs from Canterbury
University to the central city.
“They are starting to connect
now . . . it has just meant there is
big areas that can access the city
without going on the roads and
that is making a difference.”
He said motorists had also
changed their behaviour since the
earthquakes and had learned to
navigate roadworks and cyclists.
Many now allowed cyclists
to “take the lane” – ride in the
middle – through road works’
pinch points.
Canterbury University
Professor Simon Kingham, who
researches transport, said with
increased perceptions of safety
on cycles, combined with the
cycleways, more people would
opt to take up pedal power –
starting with younger people first
who were “bolder”.
Cyclist deaths since February 22, 2011, earthquake
June 2016: Phillip Eden, 60, died after being struck by a car on Main North Rd, near the
old Waimakariri Bridge in Kainga.
February 2016: Richard Chandler, 52, struck by a train at the Fendalton Rd crossing while
cycling
October 2015: Richard Caldwell, 59, died after in a downhill crash on Evans Pass Rd, no
other vehicle was involved
September 2014: Ming Chih Hsieh, 50, died after being hit by a truck at the intersection of
Carmen and Waterloo Rds
April 2014: Student nurse Sharla Haerewa, 22, was hit and killed on Lincoln Rd
July 2013: Colin Alexander, 76, died after colliding with a car on Hills Road, St Albans
March 2013: Joanne Drummond, 54, of Avondale, killed after being struck by a SUV at the
intersection of Breezes and Wainoni Rds.
March 2013: Carl Taylor, 31, died after being struck on his bicycle by a car near the
intersection of Breezes and Pages Rds
October 2011: Melvin Longworth, 69, died after colliding with a car on Hills Rd
May 2011: A 77-year-old man died after his bicycle collided with a car on Main North Rd,
near the Christchurch Northern Motorway
Alice West, 20, Canterbury University student. I think it
is a lot safer compared to when I first got here. Roads are
now a lot more developed. But I haven’t noticed a huge
change in the cycle lanes. There are also some places in
the city where I won’t cycle. I don’t like Riccarton Rd. I
have also had a few incidents on the Port Hills with the
tight roads. But it hasn’t stopped me from cycling around.
Ryan Hall, 20, Canterbury University student. Cycle
safety in the city has improved a bit since the earthquakes.
Obviously with the road damage a lot of people
are driving around the city more carefully. There are still
definitely some places I wouldn’t cycle. Places such as the
highways are not safe. But I do like the ledges on the Ilam
Rd, they make cycling a lot safer.
Miyu Uchijima, 22, Canterbury University student. Yes, I think it is a lot safer for cycling
around the city. I am from Japan and we don’t have a lot of cycle lanes and have to go through
busy roads. Some roads in the city are still bumpy and I have to be very careful. But I do
think cycle lanes have improved a lot since the earthquakes. The ledges up on Ilam Rd for the
university students have made cycling along some of the roads a lot safer. For the most part, I
find it safe enough to cycle around the city.