Welcome back to walking and cycling in Wheel Matters
There’s a renewed focus on initiatives to make walking and cycling real choices for travelling around our urban environments. This includes work on the new Walking and Cycling Strategy for the next 10 years.
A bit about me
By way of an introduction, my name is Charlotte Campbell-Lamerton - I have replaced Braden Prideaux, but my role is slightly different. I work within the Marlborough Roads team, as Council's advisor on all things walking, cycling and wheeling for the district. My main focus is on the urban areas and to advocate for safer streets for all ages and abilities in our communities.
Be seen and heard
With the change in seasons and the darker mornings and nights please take care and wear items that are easily seen in dull light.
Maintaining your safety means that it is appropriate to “claim the lane” at intersections, so that it is crystal clear to motorists that they will have to wait for you to manoeuvre yourself to the side of the road once you have completed your intersection. However, in doing so, you should be wearing some sort of hi viz so that you can be seen, rather than clipped. The other request I have had from some pedestrians is for cyclists to use your bell to alert them to your presence. This is of course good cycling etiquette.
Cycle way closures
Please note if a cycle way is closed for improvement it is closed to all users. Recently some cyclists have been seen riding through active work sites. Notices had been in place for more than two weeks that the cycle path concerned would be closed to users. While a high-vis vest was worn by one of the cyclists, no-one used their bell to announce their approach. This activity is unsafe to both riders and work crew.
Slower speeds around schools
Another request I’ve had is to ask those “super-fast” e-bikers to take more care when cycling past schools when children are present. This means when the children are being dropped off and collected. Again, a bell is good.
Near miss reporting
If you have or you see a near miss, please report it. There is an easy link in the cycling pages of Council’s website or you can use the link below. Near miss reporting
E-Bike training
If anyone has ever wondered what an e-bike might be like, there are four shops in Blenheim you can go see for more information and there is also an e-bike skills course available through Council.
New voices
I’d like to reinstate an active travel forum for those who can bring ideas and experiences with them, raise issues with Council and to advocate for safer streets for all ages. It will be a bit more like Smart and Connected, but for cyclists and other modes of travel.
Competition time
Send in your high-vis photo showing safe riding this winter to win an X-Cell Cyclists Work Stand.
Featuring self-levelling feet, foldable design, height adjustable, tools tray, telescoping stand from
1 – 1.7 m in height. This stand is any cyclist’s necessity.
Submit your pictures to MultiModal@marlborough.govt.nz. Competition Closes on 30 August 2024. Winner will be announced on 4 September 2024.