Life at No.22, Snapshots of Tauranga

Snapshots of Tauranga #13

Suzanne

We have quite a few new cycleways around Tauranga, and most locals, especially cyclists like myself, are rightly proud of them.

Until the day the council planned and built a cycleway along Cameron Road.

So, when is a cycleway, not a cycleway? When it has bus shelters built on it. Yes, you read that correctly. Bus Shelters. It certainly got right up the leg of local cyclists and non-cyclists.

Cycling down Cameron Road was an unpleasant experience when new pipework and, eventually, walk/cycleways were being constructed. For one thing, there were orange cones for Africa, which nearly put me off the colour orange. I couldn’t wear my orange dress while cycling, fearing being mistaken for a moving cone.

The week it all ended, I had to find out for myself and see what the naysayers’ gripe was about. It was a lovely sunny day, with no wind to speak of, on the weekend, less busy, and with more time to absorb what’s what. I found four or five bus shelters, not to mention rubbish and recycling bins, in the middle of the cycleway. Weird, as it would seem that the traffic planners are on the side of the cyclists, then metres up the road, it’s like their brains had a meltdown.

Most cyclists understand that cycleways are sacrosanct by definition. They may even go as far as to say they are unique, separated facilities exclusively for cyclists for safe and convenient passage on a bicycle. And nowhere could I find a definition for bus shelters in the middle of a cycleway. The two are mutually exclusive and incompatible.

Nowhere, except in Tauranga, down Cameron Road, one of our main roads in the city.

As someone pointed out, it could become a quirky little tourist attraction. Most places have them: Ohakune has its carrot, Kawakawa has its funny dunny, Cardrona has its bra fence, and bus shelters are popping up in Tauranga where they shouldn’t be. It’s not the brightest idea, though some council executives may think it is plausible.

Cyclists are advised that if people dare walk on the cycleway, you should ring your bell to get their attention. But that, at best, could end in tears and, at worst, fisticuffs because pedestrians don’t like being ‘rung” at by smart-alec cyclists. However, there is always the use of a shrill voice to alert the hard of hearing. And there is no recommended course of action for cyclists should someone have their butt parked in a bus shelter in the middle of their cycleway.

Because that, too, can happen on Cameron Road.

There’s a bus shelter obstruction in the middle of the cycleway, which raises the obvious question.

‘Where do cyclists go? Behind the shelter on the footpath, in front of the bus shelter? Where?”

Heading south down Cameron Road

The answer to anyone doing 20-30 km/h on a bicycle is certainly unclear. No signs that say ‘beware of bus shelters’ or ‘veer left or right into walkway’ exist. If they cycle behind the shelter, they’ll run into pedestrians, and if they cycle in front of the shelter, they’ll run into bus passengers or end up in the carriageway. There are no winners here.

And there would be passengers playing Russian Roulette by dashing across the cycle lanes to catch their bus. To be fair, the citizens of Tauranga are not too fussed with using public transport, so the odds of that happening are as likely as winning the National Lottery on a Saturday night. Of course, that is no excuse for putting a bus shelter on a cycleway.

Imagine the outcry if this had happened in the actual cycling cities of the world like Amsterdam. Some cities take cycling seriously.

It’s a cycleway, but not as you know it.

Cycleways without Bus Shelters

I need to brake a bit more and stop to record some of the newer cycling tracks I’ve been on recently. That will be the next ride.

Matua Saltmarsh – Heading left will guide you further around the harbour. To the right is a small loop.
Purposely built cycleway at Otumoetai, which could’ve been extended.
An alternative track is needed sometimes unless you feel like a splash. For more information on this reserve – Local Walk – Kopurererua Valley Reserve
Waikareao Estuary

The morning of publishing this post, I took my usual 10km walk around the estuary and noticed how fast cyclists were going around corners. You guessed it: One with headphones on bowled down an elderly woman cyclist. She regained composure after a few notable “F” words. Then the man got a real earful, and it was time for me to carry on walking once I found out she was okay. Being aware of others on the tracks was today’s lesson.

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

46 thoughts on “Snapshots of Tauranga #13”

        1. A while ago, I did a safety course for cyclists. We got to sit in the truck drivers’ seat to find what it’s like for them when a cyclist is cycling beside them. They have blind spots where they can’t see what’s beside them.
          Hence why I won’t cycle on a road with trucks.

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    1. Haha, regarding the picnic. Though to be fair, there are not too many cyclists nor bus passengers. That may change in the future. That’s still no excuse for the councils’ random idiosyncrasies. Going by their past projects, they’ll rip up those pathways and start again.

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      1. Sounds a wee bit like our council- something they all seem to have in common. I’m not a cyclist and do get tee’d off with them under my heels sometimes. The ‘don’t ring your bell’ stuff is nonsense to me. I’d rather be run over? Sadly we share most of the cycle tracks here, as walkers, and it can be a tricky business.

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        1. Even though I do both cycle and walk, I must admit I do get peeved off with cyclists who hoon around the tracks with no regard for anyone else. Tolerance isn’t easy some days 🌞

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  5. How bizarre! I guess going in one direction you ride behind the bus shelter and in the other in front. Whatever, I don’t fancy having to wait there with cyclists buzzing past me on either side. Jo has the right idea! As a pedestrian I hate those cyclists that flash by at speed, one false step and you are under the wheels!

    Fabulous header photo btw.

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    1. Thanks, Jude. It is a bit bizarre isn’t it and very confronting for those that aren’t so steady on their pins. Even I’ve had a fright or two, dreaming away while walking. Makes me aware of my impact on walkers when I do cycle.

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  6. The thing they have done in some areas of Glasgow is not as daft but potentially quite confusing. Moving from outside in: pavement for pedestrians, two-way cycle path, sort of long road island thing with bus stops and benches, finally the road (and another pavement on the other side). So to get to the bus stop you have to cross two cycle lanes. Not usually busy, but easy to miss.

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    1. Sounds rather complicated, I wonder how many councillors have actually studied town planning and looked at how other cities have successfully achieved combining cycling lanes with other forms of transport. At least us cyclists are away from the stream of cars which is a blessing. Just got to watch out for ones leaving their work premises.

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    1. Sarah, “orange cones for Africa”, is just a saying. Too many of one thing and enough for Africa. I wish NZers would see the positives of using public transport or cycling than using their cars, we would have less congestion and perhaps less obesity.

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    1. Firstly to answer your question regarding why a message isn’t seen straight away is every is pre-approved. Yes, we noticed a few potholes around the countryside where we housesat. It happens frequently in countryside roads as it’s not financially viable for most councils to upgrade roads when few use them.

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      1. Traffic circles in Guangzhou could be scary as could dark country roads where it was illegal for motor vehicles to use headlights — because they could blind cyclists. But I think that China is long gone!

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        1. That is hilarious regarding the non use of headlights causing blindness in cyclists. Though knocking them down isn’t an issue. Yes, perhaps that China is long gone, though I imagine in smaller rural places survival is tougher.

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          1. It was a little scary knowing the lorries were out there somewhere, but they were extraordinarily careful. I think you’re right about rural ares, though some friends who’ve traveled more recently say mopeds are more prevalent. My Chinese bike was like a 4WD car. There was nothing it couldn’t do, one speed and all.

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    1. Sorry Ruth for the late reply I had to rescue your comment from Spam for some weird reason though it’s always accepted your messages. Go figure.
      Definitely many cycle tracks to enjoy except Cameron Road.

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