Submissions

To: Christchurch City Council
Date: August 2024

Purpose

This submission’s purpose is to provide a specific disability perspective on the plan, emphasizing the critical importance of accessibility and safety for all road users, particularly in the context of managing traffic flows resulting from the Northern Christchurch Corridor. DPA aims to advocate for a balanced solution that ensures efficient transport while protecting at risk road users.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA acknowledges that the opening of the Northern Christchurch Corridor in 2020 improved public transport options, walking, and cycling experiences, and reduced congestion. DPA supports environmentally and socially friendly transport options, including bussing, walking, and cycling. DPA recognizes the primary aim of the consultation is to control traffic spillover into residential streets due to the transport corridor's design. DPA supports improvements already made to reduce "rat running" (motorists using side streets to avoid congestion) and the community’s desire for tranquillity and safety.

DPA's feedback focuses on providing a disability perspective, emphasizing accessibility and safety. DPA favours a combination of Options 2 and 3 as the preferred solution, provided two key conditions are met. The first condition is that parking be permitted on Cranford Street only during certain hours. The second condition is that if more bus stops are added, room must be created for traffic to safely merge when travelling around buses on Cranford Street. DPA believes this combined option would provide cyclists with safe manoeuvring space and pedestrians with easy navigation of footpaths and access to bus stops. It would also result in fewer vehicles occupying lanes.

Key Finding:

DPA's feedback in this submission is focused on providing a disability perspective to this plan with an emphasis on accessibility and safety.

Supporting Statement 1:

DPA favours a combination of Options 2 and 3 as the preferred solution, provided that parking is permitted on Cranford Street only during certain hours and that sufficient room is created for traffic to safely merge around buses if more stops are added.

Supporting Statement 2:

This mixed option would give cyclists the space to safely manoeuvre and pedestrians the ability to easily navigate footpaths and access bus stops, leading to fewer vehicles occupying lanes.