Carrington Road, Mount Albert – Cycle Lane Separation Carrington Road, Mount Albert – Cycle Lane Separation

Proposal status: Feedback is now closed

Reference number: 20100204

Proposal outcome

In April 2022, we proposed to install a physical barrier between motorists and cyclists on Carrington Road to improve cycle safety and experience along this stretch of road. After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed. These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.

What happens next

We anticipate the changes will be constructed in mid-late June 2022. We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

Community feedback

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge. It was highlighted in the feedback we received that making separated cycle lanes is important to the local community as it improves cycle safety and the cycling network. We heard from people who cycle along Carrington Road that a physical barrier will make them feel safer.

A summary of the additional comments and queries we received, and our responses to them, is below.

Proposed changes

Request to fast-track changes outside Gladstone Primary to help protect school children as dooring is a present danger.

We are currently investigating changes to the cycle lane outside Gladstone School.

Request for enough space to make right turns out of the cycle lanes safely and easily.

We will ensure that there is adequate room for cyclists to exit cycle lanes when they need to, and to merge to the correct lane at intersections.

Concern that cyclists will be in danger of people opening doors from cars parked outside the cycle lane.

We have included wider separators where there is parking to minimise the car door risk to cyclists.

Request for the flush medians to be removed, or to narrow the car lane width, to provide wider cycle lanes.

The traffic lanes have been narrowed to the minimal acceptable width for this corridor. The flush median space has been retained where required for higher volume turning movements.

Request to move the bus stops inline so that the cycleway can continue uninterrupted.

Upgrades to the bus stops will be considered separately to this project due to them requiring more extensive civil works.

Request to narrow the corner at the Unitec entrance to reduce speeds.

We will investigate tightening up vehicle movements and including more separation across the Unitec access.

Suggestion that having cycle lanes on both sides of the road is not required.

Having cycle lanes on both sides of the road allows for the 2-way movement of cyclists. Moving this to one side would require more extensive works and crossing upgrades. It would also increase risk at vehicle conflict points.

Suggestion that the proposal does not adhere to the guidelines to a) Provide a 1.0m horizontal buffer (0.5m normal) between a cycleway and adjacent traffic lane or b) Provide a 1.0m (0.85m tolerable minimum, 0.7m absolute minimum) between the cycleway and adjacent parked vehicles. Request to amend the separation to the appropriate width or remove the parking.

This project aims to improve the existing cycle lanes with the available kerb to kerb road width. This makes it difficult to meet guideline widths, but the provided widths have been assessed individually to ensure they are still fit for purpose and increase safety for cyclists. Parking has already been removed where absolute minimum widths cannot be achieved.

Request to know if access into/out of 1/214 Carrington Road will be completely unimpeded.

All existing accesses will be retained. Turning movements may be tighter but the placement of separators will not restrict any existing accesses.

Concern the separators make it harder for cars to pull aside if they break down.

An unforeseen event such as a breakdown will be responded to with appropriate actions, however mitigating measures for this are not something that are included in road design for this type of road and would not be prioritised over cyclist safety.

Concern about debris building up in the cycle lane, especially broken glass.

Cycle lanes will be cleaned as per maintenance schedules for separated cycle lanes. If there is a build-up of debris in a cycle lane this can be reported to AT for spot cleaning.

Request that the gaps between separators are small enough to deter cars from sneaking between them and parking/driving on the cycle lane.

The gaps in separation make it difficult for general vehicles to enter the cycle lane but still allow cyclists to enter and exit the cycle lane.

Concern about rubbish trucks not being able to reach rubbish bins.

Rubbish trucks will collect rubbish bins by straddling the concrete separators (one wheel on each side). Rubbish bins should be left kerbside as usual and not in the cycle lane and rubbish trucks will be able to collect the bins.

Concern that the changes stop short at the very northern end, turning right from Carrington Road into Great North Road. Request to extend the separators across the motorway bridge northbound at the Point Chevalier end.

The changes aim to protect existing cycle lanes and are not looking to improve intersections. Any potential intersection improvements will be considered separately. If you have an improvement you would like to request, please click here.

Concern about the S shape on the cycle lane outside 157 Carrington as if a car is parked, cyclists might be less visible to drivers coming out of Woodward Road.

There will be adequate visibility of cyclists heading northbound for drivers exiting Woodward Road to react.

Side streets

Request to reduce the turning area at Woodward Road to slow traffic into and out of Woodward Road. Request for the junctions onto Carrington Road to be tightened to not allow the immediate entrance onto the road.

We will investigate tightening up intersections with the separators. This will be based on the turning requirements for the largest vehicles using these routes.

Request to install traffic calming measures such as rubber speed bumps on the side streets.

Rubber humps can be an issue at side roads as they can be damaged by turning vehicles and can be a slip hazard to turning cyclists and motorcycles. We will investigate tightening up intersections with the separators, based on the turning requirements for the largest vehicles using these routes, to provide a speed calming effect.

Request for each junction onto Carrington Road to have a stop sign, instead of a give-way.

Stop signs are installed where visibility is limited and drivers need to stop to be able to identify a gap. If a stop sign is installed where visibility is sufficient for a safe give-way, then it is expected there would be low stop-compliance. We will investigate the need for stop-controls however they will only be installed where required.

Request for a raised table on the side streets so car noses do not creep into the cycle lane forcing pinch points.

Physical intersection upgrades are not being considered as part of this programme due to the cost and time involved in design and construction. We are however investigating the need for intersection treatments as a separate line of works and will progress these if prioritised for funding.

Proposal background

Suggestions that Carrington Road is not used by cyclists.

Cyclists have been observed to use Carrington Road and the improvements are intended to make the route more attractive for cyclists. We also received feedback from people who cycle along this road that the changes would make them feel safer.

Concern that Carrington Road will be widened significantly in the future from 11m wide to over 22m wide which will mean the proposed works on the bike lanes will be redundant.

These improvements will create a safer environment for cyclists in the interim of any major improvements. There are currently no set plans for the near future for major works here.

Concern that the barriers can promote cyclists to travel on the wrong side of the road.

There are existing cycle lanes on each side of the road for cyclists travelling in each direction. The separators will not promote cycling on the wrong side.

Parking

Request to remove the car parks south of Fifth Avenue, or to move them outside of the bike lane, as cyclists will be riding in the door zone.

There is not enough road width to provide separation here whilst maintaining the parking. Any changes to the parking here will need to be explored with the school and community to ensure a workable solution is found. This risk has been recognised and is being investigated separately to this project.

Request to remove the 2 proposed car parks outside 1 Willcott Street and it is a complex right turn already.

These are existing car parks that are being moved to the outside of the cycle lane. Vehicle tracking has been checked to ensure that these movements still work.

Concern that the parking from Woodward Road to Willcott Street is dangerous. Request to leave it as it is and improve the footpath for less confident riders and children to ride on.

The separators will provide physical separation between parked cars and cyclists which will create a safer environment for cyclists. Making the footpath a shared path would not improve safety for on-road cyclists and would worsen the amenity on the path due to conflicts between the different path users.

Concern about the lack of parking and that parking will be more difficult on Carrington Road.

Parking has only been removed where required to achieve separation for the cycle lane. This will create a safer environment for cyclists.

Additional measures

Request for signs to remind car passengers to look before opening doors into the west-side cycle lane.

We do not install signage to remind drivers to check before opening doors as this is a general rule across the network when opening a door into a live traffic lane.

Request for highway-style raised reflectors mounted on the divider line at intersections and crossings to remind road users of the cycle lane/cyclists.

We will install signage and markings to highlight the separators at the start points and after intersections.

Request for a table pedestrian crossing 50m from the east end of Woodward Road to increase safety, especially for school children.

This will be investigated separately to this project.

Request for cycle lanes to be fully separated and protected, ideally off the roadway, to ensure the safety of children.

This project aims to quickly install separation on the existing painted cycle lanes. Full separation and protection would require a major project and upgrade which is currently not planned for this corridor in the near future.

We're proposing improvements in your area

Auckland Transport would like to work with you to make it safer and easier to cycle along Carrington Road.

Proposed improvements to Carrington Road:

From Sutherland Road to New North Road.

Install physical separation between the vehicle lanes and existing kerb side painted cycle lanes.
The separators will be 300mm wide raised concrete islands and will be positioned on the existing cycle lane white line.
Gaps will be left for existing property accesses and side road intersections.

On the western side, from Woodward Road to Wilcott Street.

Relocate the cycle lane, which is currently located outside of the kerbside parking bays, to be directly adjacent to the kerb.
Concrete separators 600mm wide would be installed on the outside of the cycle lane and where possible.
Parking will be relocated on the outside of the separators. Relocating the parking outside of the cycle lane will however, result in a slight reduction in parking for this section of Carrington Road.

Each separator will be between 3-5m long and will typically have a 3-6m gap between each separator. Gaps will be left for existing property accesses and side road intersections.

On the eastern side, outside Gladstone Primary.

This section of cycle lane adjacent the existing kerb side parking is not going to be changed as part of these works. Auckland Transport is reviewing this section as a separate project and will review options to manage school related parking while providing safety improvements for cycling.

Download the proposal drawing for Carrington Road (PDF 7.14MB).

These changes will improve the safety and the experience for cyclists on Carrington Road by creating a physical barrier between motor vehicles and people on bikes.

If you would like to post in your feedback, download and print our feedback form template, fill in your details and send it freepost using the address details on the form.

What happens next

We’ll consider all the feedback we receive, and then decide the best way to move forward.
We’ll post the outcome of this proposal and a summary of community feedback on this webpage.
We can email you the proposal outcome as soon as it’s ready – just select that option when you fill in the survey.

More information

This proposal is supported with funding from the Auckland regional fuel tax.
This proposal is part of the region-wide Minor Cycling and Micro-mobility programme which aims to improve the safety of our existing cycle facilities.
No changes are planned to access or bus stops as part of this project. This project will also not make any changes to rubbish or recycling bin collection which continue to be picked up from the kerb.

Mount Albert: Safe with us

Auckland Transport cares for your safety. We want to make our roads safe for everyone, people walking and cycling, especially for our kids and senior citizens and people driving. Projects like this one on Carrington Road are another step towards our goal of achieving no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. We are guided by the Vision Zero approach to transport safety, which prioritises human safety over other measures (like minor time saving).