I was disappointed to receive a community paper the "Christchurch Mail" which records political grandstanding and opposition to a further cycle lanes proposal on a major traffic route in the central city. The edition in question is published 23rd September 09. It states in part that "The Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board voted by a majority to defer the Christchurch City Council staff proposal...until preliminary views of locally affected parties are sought..."

Aside from this consultation process the article has provided local body politicians with another vehicle in which to attack the placement of cycle and bus lanes on arterial traffic routes, a long running controversy in the city over the past few years. The provision of bus and cycle lanes and bus priority measures, and in fact any kind of restrictions against private vehicle traffic, is constantly resisted at the elected representative level despite the obvious need to deal with growing excessive volumes of private vehicle traffic and cater for eco-friendly and sustainable transport modes such as buses and cycles.

Last month there was controversy over the placement of cycle lanes in Stanmore Road.  It was made obvious in the process of resolving this controversy that businesses must be assumed to be dependent on the provision of on-street parking directly in front of the premises concerned, despite the clear long-standing expectation that businesses provide their own off-street parking. Furthermore that all significant traffic to such businesses is by private motor vehicle and that other forms of transport which do not require on street parking are insignificant or of no account.

There was reporting of comments by Councillors Todd and Johanson which was generally negative against the proposed cycle lanes and added little of substance to the debate. My view overall is that the council is showing repeatedly it is unwilling to pay more than lip service to the major issue of motor vehicle traffic volumes and attendant negative impacts. The level of support directed towards creating and supporting cycle friendly roads is pitiful, and facilities for bus users are endlessly deferred. These attitudes are disappointing in these environmentally challenged times.