May 4, 2004

Off-road cycle path for new school

Cyclists travelling to Albany's new Oteha Valley School will soon be safer when an off-road cycle path is put in on the northern side of the road between Medallion Dr and Anderson Rd.

The path provides the infrastructure to support North Shore City Council's TravelWise to School initiative, which aims to cut down the amount of travel to school by car by providing safe alternatives.

Weather permitting, the $50,000 project will be finished in just over a month. It is being funded by North Shore City's cycle project budget, which is partially subsidised by Transfund, the Government's transport funding agency.

Next week the 300m concrete off-road cycle path will be laid on the northern side of Oteha Valley Rd. It runs along the road reserve, rather than directly beside the road, and a grass strip provides a buffer between it and the footpath.

North Shore City works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says about 40 per cent of cars on the road during weekday morning and mid-afternoon peak times are carrying students.

"Because this cyclepath is off the road, and separated from car traffic by a grass strip, parents can feel safe sending their children to school by bike. This is the sort of cycling infrastructure I would like to see available for all North Shore City school children.

"I congratulate Oteha Valley School on working with us on this project. We need the co-operation of schools if we are to make a difference," Councillor Cayford says.

North Shore City's TravelWise to School facilitators have also been working closely with the school, which opened earlier this year, to develop a travel plan to encourage children to walk, cycle and car pool.

In line with the council's Strategic Cycle Plan, the new off-road cycle path will link with similar paths in future subdivisions in the area, and will be extended east and west to allow safe access to other facilities such as the Albany centre and local shopping areas.

Last year, North Shore City commissioned a study to identify and evaluate the benefits of improving safety and assisting cyclists who use the ring route in Albany.

It identified that cycling in Albany would increase in future years with more students attending Massey University, school roll expansion, and Albany retail and commercial centre development.

ENDS

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