Middle Renwick Road (SH6) Cycle Lanes

Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Roads are installing cycle lanes along Middle Renwick Road (State Highway 6) - from Murphys Road/Battys Road through to Westwood Business Park, Blenheim.

Adding this section of cycle lanes is part of the big picture' to develop a safe, convenient and connected cycle network around Marlborough. We want to help make cycling a viable and enjoyable way to commute to and from work and school, to get around town, and for leisure.

This project is funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Marlborough District Council.

Features

The project will involve the following:

• 1.8 metre-wide cycle lanes, and a painted buffer between the cycle lane and traffic lane
• Removal of some car parking and the painting of yellow no-stopping lines (see further detail below)
• Retaining existing car parking near Murphys Road / Battys Road roundabout, and adding four new indented parking bays.
• Removal of six street trees between Battys Road and Rose Street to allow for indented car parking (see further detail below)
• Widening of the existing footpath to a shared pathway between Severne Street and Westwood Ave
• Minor alterations to existing islands at the Murphys Road / Battys Road roundabout, to encourage cyclists to take the lane when travelling through the roundabout.

Buffered Cycle Lanes

Buffered cycle lanes are a conventional cycle lane, with a painted buffer between the cycle lane and the traffic lane.

Benefits of buffered cycle lanes:

• Provide more separation between the bike rider and passing vehicles
• Make it easier for drivers to pass cyclists at a safer distance
• Increase the perception of safety by having something between the rider and the traffic lane
• Encourage people riding bikes to travel outside the door opening zone of parked cars

Buffered cycle lanes are used around New Zealand in cities such as Nelson, Palmerston North, Wellington and Auckland.

Parking

Weekday and weekend parking demand surveys have identified a current parking demand of 16 car park spaces.

Under the final design, 28 car parks would be retained, through retaining existing car parks near the Murphys Road/Battys Road roundabout, as well as constructing four new indented car parks between Battys Road and Rose Street. With the additional parking now provided, the provision should comfortably exceed the demand level by over 40%.

Care has been taken to maximise parking provision while minimising tree removal, however the proposed indented car parking would require the remove of six street trees - two outside 174 Middle Renwick Road, three outside 169-173 Middle Renwick Road, and one outside 157B Middle Renwick Road. (The Council plants 150 new street trees every year).

Public Consultation

Key changes to the design resulting from public consultation include:

• Adding two additional two-metre wide indented parking bays, outside 157B and 163 Middle Renwick Road (which will require the removal of an additional street tree);
• Widening the two indented parking bays outside 169 and 174 Middle Renwick Road to 2.5 metres to accommodate trucks and larger vehicles; and
• Adding a 1.5-metre-wide cycle path connection on Severne Street, connecting to the shared pathway.

To view a summary of feedback, including key themes and comments from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Marlborough District Council click on the Public Consultation Summary document below.

More details