Fire and Emergency say cycleways are slowing them down

Wednesday, 15 November 2023

New pedestrian crossings and cycleways are slowing down fire trucks on the way to urgent jobs, Fire and Emergency say.

Assistant commander Michael Dombroski from Fire and Emergency (Fenz) Wellington spoke to a council committee about the delay caused by cycleways.

“We would love to explore alternative options that would promote cycling and cycle lanes, and protect cyclists, but would allow us to get to emergencies in a timely manner. It’s not just a saying, seconds actually count.”

Fire engines were facing some “quite significant traffic delay and congestion issues” along Adelaide Rd, where the separated Newtown to city cycleway was installed last year.

The sticks, which separate bikes from cars in an effort to make cycling routes safer, were preventing drivers from pulling to the left to get out of the way for emergency services.

“Cars are unable or unwilling to pull to the left, even for a short space of time, over the traffic separators,” Dombroski said.

The barriers also hindered access to hydrants and the kerbside, which limited fire fighters’ reach when they used ladders to put out house fires.

Fenz would prefer low, curved humps, such as the ones used in driveways, to be considered for the next stage from Newtown to Berhampore, rather than the traffic separator sticks.

Traffic congestion from the removal of traffic lanes through Newtown also slowed down the emergency response.

Dombroski was concerned the plan to introduce separated cycleways and remove car parks through Berhampore would slow down the fire engines even further.

“We’re figuring this out by experimentation with the changes that are progressively taking place and the cycle lanes that are going in.”

Raised pedestrian crossings were also slowing fire trucks down significantly, although Dombroski said Fenz supported public safety and it was a “bit of a difficult submission to make at times”.

“We understand they are important for public safety … but often there are too many of them in a stretch of road that slows us down too much and creates a tail of traffic behind us.”

Mary Potter Hospice and the University of Otago have also raised concerns about the plan to limit parking near the hospital in Newtown.

Dombroski said he believed ambulances were facing similar issues, although not to the same extent because they were smaller than fire trucks.

Wellington Free Ambulance has been approached for comment.

The hearings on parking and cycleways in Newtown and Berhampore are taking place at the Wellington City Council on Wednesday and Thursday.