Committee recommends cycleway route names

A public vote to find names for Christchurch City Council’s Major Cycleways has led to a recommended preferred option for each of the 13 routes.

The Environmental Committee met today and endorsed a staff recommendation to adopt names for the routes based on results from a public vote in February 2014. Among names recommended to the Council for consideration are Wheels to Wings, Quarryman's Trail, Avon Ōtkaro Route and Nor'West Arc. The full list is included in the table below, along with proposed Te Reo Māori names.

“These are the public’s cycleways they will be the ones who use them so it felt right that we ask local people to suggest names for the Major Cycleway routes,” says Environmental Committee Chair Phil Clearwater.

“The contest was very well supported with more than 220 names put forward and 1200 votes received for the finalists. There are some innovative names with clever play on words that draw on local knowledge and are a good fit with the routes.”

The Committee also recommended that all routes have bilingual name options; Ngāi Tahu has provided route name variations in Te Reo.

The Council will consider the recommendation to adopt the route names in April.

Meanwhile, community consultation is getting under way on the first elements that will make up the Major Cycleways. Construction on sections of two routes is earmarked to begin later this year.

Staff are developing detailed designs and processes to ensure the new cycleways are consistent and predictable in their quality and level of service.

“This will ensure all cycleways meet our minimum standards and the criteria will be used to guide decision-making so the long term success of the programme is assured,” Mr Clearwater says.

In the meantime, some areas of work have been identified to progress this year, including:

• Eight new signalised road crossings which will provide a safe crossing point where traffic volumes are high and where the existing routes will become part of the future cycleways network.

• The section of the Grassmere/Papanui to City Route through the Rutland Reserve.

• The route connecting Canterbury University and College of Education with the Central City.

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