Wellington cycleway war rumbles into wealthy Wadestown

Friday, 9 August 2024

A Fire and Emergency truck was blocked on its way to a fire by a surprise planter box, installed as a new Wellington cycleway went in.

Well-to-do Wadestown is the next cab off the rank – or bike off the rack – as Wellington’s most divisive issue rumbles into the west of the hilltop suburb.

Weighing in, in opposition to a new cycleway is a man about to get a hip replacement, a mother with chronic pain, and a medical centre which claims it may be forced to shut.

But there will also be a strong pro-cycleway corner when a Wellington City Council committee on Friday hears public submissions on the planned new cycleway, which will come with parking changes.

There is one submitter who sees it as a “beautiful thing” amid bleak times nationally and another who says the changes will make the roads safer for cyclists, cars and pedestrians.

The hilltop suburb of Wadestown is latest front in Wellington’s cycleway wars.

The council’s Wadestown Connections project will see a new bike lane forged through the western side of the suburb from Churchill Drive to the Wadestown shops. There is already a cycleway coming up from the city.

The cycleway will take out a number of car parks and its introduction will come with parking changes on many other streets as well as an extension of a 30kph speed zone.

The council’s cycleway roll-out has regularly been cited as the city’s most divisive issue and submissions show Wadestown residents are ready to take the baton. Feedback shows that 58% of submitters oppose the changes compared with 35% in favour.

Wadestown residents are split about a new cycleway, with parking changes.

“There are no alternatives to driving to work and parking for a day for many staff,” a submission from a local medical centre says.

It goes on to say the loss of parking “might be the last straw and shut us down”.

A resident on Blackbridge Rd opposed the planned parking changes: “I am about to have a hip replacement operation and having to walk, carry groceries etc from halfway down the street will be a huge disruption to my life”.

Another Wadestown resident said she already had problems with parking and carrying a toddler and groceries to her house with chronic pain injuries.

But the planned changes have their share of backers.

Cycleways have proven contentious in most parts of Wellington they have gone in, including Newtown. Now it is Wadestown’s turn.

“Given our current Government’s backwards jumping regressive policies regards citizens’ health now and in the future (via cigarettes and our industrial climate crisis) seeing local initiatives finally completed is a beautiful thing, even despite their being several decades behind time!,” said one Karori resident.

A Wadestown couple will tell the committee how they moved to to the suburb due to its proximity to the city, though “tweaks” could be made to address parking issues some residents had.

“We walk, cycle and use public transport. We think that the proposed changes will further improve these options,” they wrote.

Another, from Wadestown, was highly supportive and believed speed restrictions should go further.

“I think the 30kmh zone should be extended to the intersection with Moorehouse Rd as turning out of that street after visiting the library is bloody terrifying, and people REALLY put their foot down coming downhill,” she said.

Alex Dyer from Cycle Wellington said the planned Wadestown bike lane would add to the “network effect” of Wellington cycle routes. While downhill cycleways were good, uphill ones – such as Churchill Drive to the Wadestown shops – were more vital as it was here the speed differential between bikes and cars was most pronounced.