The proposed changes to parking to accommodate the reported $2 million Albany St Connection cycleway were recommended at a recent Dunedin City Council hearings committee.
During early consultation last year, the cycleway was expected to result in the loss of only about 25 carparks.
Now, the recommendation to remove 68 carparks will go to city councillors early next year despite opposition from businesses in the area, and the city’s deputy mayor.
Hearings committee chairman Cr Jim O’Malley said the project evolved over a series of consultations and refinements by those planning it.
He supported the cycleway — and the loss of 68 carparks — notwithstanding the concerns raised by businesses at this month’s hearings.
There had also been expert evidence and other submitters, including the Otago University Students’ Association, supporting the recommended changes, he said.
"You’ve got to also remember there was quite a lot of support for it.
"When you build a full dedicated cycleway, it will effectively knock out almost all the parks on the side of the road you decide to build it on.
"I think it’s a great idea," he said.
He said councillors had recently been provided statistics that showed in Dunedin 4% of people cycled to work.
That put the city even with Christchurch, he said.
It was an impressive statistic, because years ago here it would have been zero, he said.
"We’re the same as Christchurch and it’s growing, because we’ve got good cycleways.
"And that last part to do is to connect the ones that are in existence to the other ones."
That was the intention of the Albany St Connection, he said.
The council transport department report to the committee said the project was designed to improve pedestrian safety in Albany St and provide a "safe and attractive east-west cycle route" that connected the harbour cycleway with the cycle lanes on State Highway1, in the tertiary precinct and in the city centre.
The project was part of the Shaping Future Dunedin Transport programme.
Initial consultation on the new separated cycleway in Albany St included pedestrian crossings, parking changes and making parts of Riego, Leith and Clyde Sts one way. That consultation was completed in June last year.
As a result, Leith and Clyde Sts were proposed to remain two-way, and a range of other changes were incorporated into the design, including keeping most of the trees along Albany St.
A second round of targeted consultation took place in June this year.
Several more changes were incorporated into the design, such as Clyde St turning into a one-way south between Albany St and Trent Ave, to reduce vehicle-cyclist conflicts at that intersection, the report said.
"Finally, additional engagement with businesses in the area was undertaken in October to December 2023 to respond to specific concerns about the project and incorporate short-term parking restrictions specifically requested," it said.
Still, deputy mayor Cherry Lucas, a member of the three-person hearing committee, said after listening to the affected businesses at the hearing, she put forward a motion to reinstate some of the lost carparks.
However, she lost the vote 2-1.
Among those concerned businesses was Sushi Station.
Manager Jason Kim said the family-owned business opposed any reduction in carparks in the area.
Mr Kim said he did not see any need to make more space for cyclists.
The bike rack across the street was "hardly ever full" and it was rare to see bicycles on the road there.
The choice had been made to accommodate a small number of cyclists "and we get punished in return".
The university was Sushi Station’s primary source of business, but the carparks were well used by customers, especially at lunchtime, he said.
A council spokesman said the Albany St Connection project was not affected by the government’s announcements on ending NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s Transport Choices project funding.
