Every silver lining has a cloud… and while the newly built stretches along the NW cycleway are a delight to ride, we’ve heard of at least 3 crashes at the Patiki Rd underpass since it opened in March.
There will be a formal safety audit as soon as works are officially completed – but naturally we and NZTA are keen to find out what’s happening sooner, so the remedies can be applied as quickly as possible.
Is speed a contributing factor in these incidents? Visibility? Camber? Approach? Was oncoming bike traffic an issue, or not? We don’t know – that’s why we need your help.
Please read the following message from the NZTA, and contact Barbara Ware at the Causeway Alliance at 027 809 8186 if you’ve been involved in a crash here. We’re also keen to hear your experiences and thoughts in the comments below. (Or, if you wish to contact us in confidence, here’s a handy form).
“The NZ Transport Agency understands there have been a small number of incidents recently that have seen cyclists receiving injuries at the Patiki Road underpass on the Northwestern Cycleway.
We are working with our partners to make cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice for Aucklanders, so if you’ve been involved in an incident and received an injury, we’re really keen to hear about it so that we can learn more about how it happened. The information will help us to understand if there are any changes that can be made to improve safety for riders using this cycling route, which we know is growing in popularity. Please contact Barbara Ware on 027 809 8186.
We are working closely with Bike Auckland and Bike Te Atatu and we understand that in some cases speed may have been a contributing factor.
Construction of the Patiki Road underpass isn’t finished yet, it’s still a construction site and from a safety perspective needs to be treated this way. Those of you riding this section today might have noticed signs in green paint on the cycleway asking riders to “keep left”. The paint used has anti-slip properties to further improve safety, but riders should still take care when it’s wet.
We want everyone to share the benefits of the cycleway, so please think about others who also use it, slow down when it’s appropriate and cycle to the conditions so that everyone can finish their ride safely.
Thank you for your patience as we complete this upgrade and continue our work to make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to bike around Auckland.”
[Photos courtesy of Bike Te Atatu’s Carol Green]
