Submissions

To: Christchurch City Council
Date: July 2024

Purpose

This submission is regarding proposed improvements on Marine Parade from the perspective of disabled people, advocating for design choices that enhance safety and accessibility for everyone.

DPA aims to ensure that the planned improvements consider the unique mobility and safety needs of disabled individuals, proposing specific recommendations to achieve a more inclusive outcome for the community.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA favours the option highlighting that it will provide a significantly better level of pedestrian safety for everyone, including disabled people. This option, which includes raised safety speed platforms with pedestrian crossings, a speed hump, and painted cycle lanes, is particularly welcomed by disabled people mobilising by foot, wheel, or with support animals, as it helps slow down traffic, crucial for safe road crossing and reducing fatal injuries.

DPA also expresses support for cycling as an active, environmentally friendly, and healthy transport mode engaged in by a wide range of people, including disabled individuals. The submission also supports other general improvements that apply across all options, such as peak-hour clearways, signalised crossing improvements, and increased off-street parking, which have the potential to enhance accessibility, safety, and transport efficiency.

Key Recommendation:

DPA recommends that disabled people and disability organisations are involved by the Council in discussions around the placement of the painted cycle way.

Recommendation 1: The first concerns the pedestrian crossing at the corner of Hawke Street and Marine Parade, where DPA recommends replacing the courtesy crossing and pedestrian refuge island with a full pedestrian crossing across the entire road, precisely aligning with tactile strips to ensure the safety of blind and low vision pedestrians.

Recommendation 2: That focuses on the need for a sheltered bus stop near the North New Brighton Community Club. While a seat is welcomed as useful for everyone, DPA stresses that it needs to be part of a sheltered structure to protect people from wet and/or windy weather while waiting for buses or taking a rest.

Recommendation 3: That addresses the placement of cycleways. DPA emphasizes that while they welcome the creation of a cycleway, its design and placement are essential for maintaining safety for disabled pedestrians. DPA has received reports from disabled people across the country about numerous near misses with cyclists on or near cycleways or shared footpaths.

Supporting Statement 1: DPA has heard from disabled people around the country that they have experienced numerous near misses with cyclists either on or near cycleways or on shared footpaths.

Supporting Statement 2: The needs of cyclists must not come at the expense of the safety of pedestrians and disabled people, as these groups are being forced into competing with one another due to the dominance of roading in the transport system.