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Several bike lanes have been installed on Richmond’s streets, but cyclists still feel unsafe.
photo: Anne Hardie/Waimea Weekly
Despite the Tasman City Council’s significant investment in new cycleways, only 41 per cent of Tasman residents feel safe cycling.
This is in stark contrast to the percentage of residents who feel safe when driving (85%) or walking (73%).
The data is part of Tasman District Council’s resident satisfaction survey and has a margin of error of 4.9 per cent.
The proportion of residents who felt safe cycling fell by 5 per cent compared to the 2023 result, well below the council’s target of 70 per cent.
This is despite the Streets for People program having installed a network of dedicated bike lanes on Richmond Road and Aranui Road in Mapúa.
Other investments have also been made, such as additional investment in upgrades to the Great Taste Trail and Pōhara shared paths in the Motueka Valley.
Some councillors lamented the results, with Mike Kininmonth saying the figures were “very, very disappointing”.
Councillor Mike Kininmonth wondered if the bike project wasn’t providing “value for money”.
photo: Max Frasier
“From a value for money perspective, we’re not getting the return we were hoping for.”
However, senior policy adviser Brylee Wayman said when the ward sees the data, “it does seem to reflect some of the investments in Richmond.”
Richmond District residents felt safest when cycling at 48 per cent, followed by Motueka District (44 per cent), Moutere-Waimea District (38 per cent) and Lakes-Murchison District (34 per cent), while Golden Bay District residents felt least safe when cycling at 26 per cent.
The findings follow recent decisions by councillors to remove concrete medians on Salisbury Road due to resident opposition and safety concerns; remove some speed bumps in an area shared by bikes and cars on Wensleydale Road; and remove a 30km/h trial zone in another shared area on Hill Street.
Richmond’s bike lanes have gone through several adjustments, including the removal of concrete dividers after community opposition.
photo: Max Frasier
Plans to install cycle lanes on several streets in Motueka were also delayed last year after strong community opposition.
The survey also showed a drop in residents’ satisfaction with bike lanes, from 68% in 2023 to 53% in 2024, with dissatisfied respondents highlighting the reduction in parking spaces and bike lane layout.
Councillor Glen Daikee expressed concern about asking non-cyclists questions about cycling.
“If you ask someone, and they’re not a cyclist, you might end up getting a poll on how much they dislike bike lanes.”
Councillor Glen Daikee was concerned that residents who don’t ride bicycles would use the survey results to vote on bike lanes.
photo: Max Frasier
Council officials attributed some of the discontent to the “cultural change” the area is going through regarding cycling, and having to learn etiquette about how to treat cyclists on the roads.
Aside from cycling, the survey showed 71 per cent of residents were satisfied with the council’s overall performance, down slightly from 73 per cent last year.
When compared with the overall satisfaction ratings of other similar councils in the 2023 resident survey, Tasman is in the lead, beating neighbours Nelson and Marlborough, as well as Kapiti, Napier and New Plymouth.
Residents were also very satisfied with the council’s recreational facilities, library, three water areas and roadside recycling facilities, with satisfaction rates all exceeding 85 per cent.
Satisfaction with the council’s recreational facilities and libraries remains high.
photo: Max Frasier
Satisfaction with footpaths has now reached the council’s target of 70 per cent, after experiencing the lowest levels in almost three decades in 2021 and 2022.
However, satisfaction with the Richmond Aquatic Centre fell 11 points to 84 per cent.
Road issues, which have been a problem for many people, remain at 45 per cent, but the council has increased its road maintenance budget in the hope that this will start to address community concerns.
The survey comes as Richmond undergoes major road works and layout changes.
Analysis of the survey results showed that improving residents’ views on tax expenditures, public consultations and sidewalks would increase overall resident satisfaction.
The survey reflects the views of 400 randomly selected residents whose age, location and gender are representative of Tasman’s demographics.
LDR is a local news organisation jointly funded by RNZ and NZ on Air.
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