Public consultation will begin today on one of Christchurch’s keystone Major Cycle Route projects.

The Quarryman’s Trail, which will link the central city to Halswell via Addington, Somerfield and Hoon Hay, is the first of four public consultations on Major Cycle Routes to begin in the next six weeks.

The consultation marks a major step in the cycleways programme, as Council invests $156 million in a network of 13 cycleways around the city over the next seven years.

Christchurch City Council Major Cycleways Programme Manager Clarrie Pearce said public input was vital as the next phase of Major Cycle Routes kicked off.

New cycleways will make cycling safe, convenient and enjoyable.

“It is exciting to have a number of these projects on the go. The Major Cycle Routes are different from existing cycle facilities around the city. They have been designed as a network of cycleways that will feed off each other. With seven routes now either in consultation or construction we will soon start to see that network effect come into play,” Mr Pearce said.

“We need the community’s help to build the best cycle routes possible, so please do submit your feedback, particularly if a Major Cycle Route is coming through your neighbourhood.”

The Major Cycle Routes aim to help achieve the NZ Transport Agency target of 10 million more cycle trips annually in New Zealand by 2019, Mr Pearce said.

“They will make cycling a safe, convenient and enjoyable experience and encourage new groups of people to try getting around by bike.”
Consultation for the Quarryman’s trail opens today, while the Northern Line route, which follows the railway line from Hagley Park north to Styx Mill Reserve, will open for feedback next Monday.

Following on from those routes consultation will start on the Rapanui to Shag Rock cycleway and the Heathcote Expressway in November.

Council will also be using a new web-based public engagement tool called Social Pinpoint for the first time.

“We will still have all our regular feedback options, but Social Pinpoint is a great electronic way of gathering feedback and it will mean Council can reach a broader audience and increase participation rates,” Mr Pearce said. “For Major Cycle Routes, it allows people to click on a specific area on a map that affects or concerns them, and leave their comment or thoughts. It’s an online tool that aims to improve the way organisations engage with their communities and stakeholders.”

Find out more about Major Cycle Routes.