'A ghost town': Wellington businesses say latest bike lanes are 'stuffing’ up the city

Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Artist's image of the proposed cycleway outside Thorndon New World on Molesworth St, Wellington in 2023.

Businesses in Thorndon are concerned the construction of a new cycleway will increase financial pressures.

The cycleway is one of many projects under the Wellington City Council’s 10-year long term plan.

The plan has caused the council strife, to the point where the Government said it was willing to intervene.

More Wellington businesses say they are facing dire financial prospects as the construction of a cycleway removes more customer parking spots.

The capital has seen an increased number of businesses closing their doors, with many owners blaming a lack of parking and long-running construction as part of the cause.

Wellington City Council has been under fire for the handling of its 10-year long term plan, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stating the Government will “make an intervention” if it has to.

Molesworth St and Murphy St in Thorndon were the latest to be affected by local projects, with construction expanding in the area over the past few weeks. This section of businesses is several minutes away from Thorndon Quay, where numerous stores, such as Bordeaux Bakery, have recently closed .

Molesworth St is one of the main roads running from the CBD to the northern motorway and on to the suburbs of Wadestown and Crofton Downs.

The bike lane has been reduced from two lanes to one in some areas, it has also been affected by construction work on a new building, which when completed in 2025 will be home to MFAT and the MetService, The Post reported.

As part of the Thorndon Connections project, separated bike lanes were being added to the area, reduced vehicle lanes were being implemented and more pedestrian crossings would be put in place.

Chapman-Taylor owner Clem Griffiths said the construction work on the street was out of control.

The bike lanes were “stuffing the capital city of New Zealand” as they removed a large portion of the car parks near his business, he said.

Bordeaux Bakery's closure raises concerns for Thorndon Quay businesses. Owners express fears over high rents and reduced access due to ongoing roadworks, signaling tough times ahead for the area.

“It’s going to be horrendous… it’s going to be a ghost town.”

Foot traffic into the cafe/bar would remain relatively unaffected through the week due to nearby workers, Griffiths said, but the weekend would take a real hit.

“All these retailers can’t get people to stop.”

MariLuca Ristoro Owner Yasmin Bisa said everyone was dealing with the bad economy - but the construction and cyclelanes were making things worse.

“It’s rubbing salt on the wound, we’ve been hurting already.”

Chapman-Taylor will have less car parks outside after the cycle way is implemented

While long-time regulars still managed to navigate the new, complex parking situation, most people were just driving by, she said.

The restaurant had been operating since 2011, Bisa said, but she had serious long-term concerns.

“Our case is not isolated.”

WCC Lambton Ward Councillor Nicola Young said the council needed to focus on the liveability of the city and stop the push to establish cycleways.

“We just have to stop doing these things and stop spending money, you know, using all the road cones in the world,” she said.

Saving people money and making sure businesses can survive should be the priority, she said.

The Thorndon Connections project included a reduction in on-street parking overall, but added two new car share spaces, two new taxi stands, three new diplomatic car parks and one new mobility park.