‘Wolves and mice’ and a penny-farthing on $65m cycleway
Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Putting cyclists on to a shared Lower Hutt path has been compared with putting “wolves and mice together” by a cyclist who fears there will be an accident.
On Monday, the $65 million, 3.5km Melling to Petone shared path and cycleway was opened with high profile cycling advocate Paul Kennett riding into Wellington on a penny farthing.
The Pito-One to Melling section of Te Ara Tupua is the first part of a walking and cycling link between Central Hutt, Eastbourne and Wellington City. Funded by Waka Kotahi and Hutt City Council, it has been beset with delays and cost blowouts.
It will eventually join the Ngā Ūranga to Pito-One section - in 2026 - and also link to the Hutt River Trail, and walking and cycling paths to be built as part of RiverLink.
A large gathering of cyclists were on hand to see Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry cut the ribbon.
A section of the path running through the car park at the Petone rail station has caused chatter among cyclists, with some questioning whether it is safe.
Commuters disembarking from trains at Petone step directly on to the path.
Larri Wallbridge said she had doubts the design, especially the section that ran through the car park at Petone.
“I want to say something about the shared space. It is like putting wolves and mice together.”
Despite her concerns, she said she would use the cycleway regularly and was pleased to see it finally finished.
“Rain, wind or sunshine. I cycle every day.”
Kennett said his penny farthing was originally imported from Taiwan and he rode it only on special occasions.
The new pathway was a “fantastic“ asset and he predicted a surge in cyclists riding into town, once the Petone to Ngauranga section opened in 2026.
He uses an electric bike to ride from Moera to Wellington, to reduce the impact of Wellington’s notorious wind, and he believes that electric bikes are the way of the future for commuters.
Mark Renall (known in cycling circles as Marco Renalli) has been cycling from Petone into Wellington for more than 25 years. Describing the path as “awesome”, he welcomed the asphalt surfacing as it was less slippery than concrete, and much safer for cyclists.
“We will have to share it with people but we will just have to take care.”
Cyclists and commuters getting off the train at Petone would have to learn to look out for each other, he said.
Dave Appleyard, from Hutt Rotary, said the cycleway would link in to the Hutt River Trail and provide a safe, flat and well-lit route for older or less confident cyclists.
Waka Kotahi regional manager of infrastructure delivery Jetesh Bhula said that as well as encouraging people to change the way they travelled, there were many benefits to the project.
“It highlights our commitment to creating a safe and attractive connection between the two cities.”
Once the Petone to Ngauranga section is completed, he predicted more than 2000 cyclists and 470 walkers would use it daily by 2035.
For weekends, the average is estimated at 2300 cyclists and 840 walkers.
Barry said the shared path would create a number of transport options for Hutt residents.
“It is an important piece of infrastructure, which will stand the test of time as we see people change their [transport] habits.”
When work began on the path in 2019 it was supposed to cost $30m. Two years earlier the figure had been $17m. Once work began, however, geotechnical issues, soil contamination and the need to move KiwiRail underground services added to the cost and complexity of the project.
At $65m, the cycleway is one of the most expensive in the country at roughly $18m per km.