This section also includes the Politically Correct cycle lanes (when will they create additional Politically Correct lanes for those who ride horses?), but here they won’t be too contentious as (at present) it is a rural area and the road shoulders which NZTA/KCDC plan to convert to cycle lanes shouldn’t need to involve traffic lane narrowing.
The following statements are reproduced verbatim:
- New road layout to suit the traffic movements and lower traffic volumes since the Expressway opening.
- Re-configuring the road markings to cater for a painted median (where it exists), a single traffic lane and an on-road cycle lane in both directions.
- Localised road/pavement widening required along the eastern side to cater for the on-road cycle lanes.
- Reducing the speed from Hemi Street to the Expressway Peka Peka Link Road from 100km/h to 80km/h. This change is considered appropriate to improve safety for all people of all abilities.
- Removing the passing lane to improve safety and to suit the lower traffic volumes since the Kāpiti Expressway has opened.
- New road signage appropriate for a local road.
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It looks like the median will be reduced in width a bit to make the cycle lanes even wider.
Being so recent, the cycle lane space was included in this section.
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The cycle lane here looks almost as wide as the traffic lane.
Wonder if anyone will actually use the cycle lanes.
Councils still seem wrapped up in the cycle lane syndrome that John Key put out.
Its time to move on and save money.
Suppose the council could bring in a $1000 instant fine for those cyclists that don’t use the lanes.
That’s an interesting point — if cycle lanes exist, are cyclists required to stay within them? If motorists need to pull over to the shoulder for any reason to stop and it consists solely of a cycle lane, is that allowed? We’ll find out.
I rode this route in 2021, which I presume was after the changes were made, I can tell you it was pretty scary, there is no way traffic was doing 80 kmph