The University of Otago is not budging on its ban on cycling through the central area of the Dunedin campus.
Chancellor Dr Royden Somerville said the university was ‘‘not in a position to reverse its stance’’, because of heavy pedestrian demand and safety issues.
Responding to questions from Dunedin city councillors Andrew Whiley and Lee Vandervis at a 10-year plan hearing this week, Dr Somerville indicated the university could work with the council to develop the cycleway network.
He later clarified this would not extend to lifting the campus cycling ban.
Advocates of a safer north-south cycling route have long argued the campus should be part of it.
Cr Vandervis said the university’s policy preventing this was unhelpful.
In a submission to the university’s Vision 2040 document, the council argued a cycle-friendly campus should be a strategic imperative.
Otago University Students’ Association president Michaela Waite-Harvey said the association strongly supported having a cycleway connection through the campus.
Otago University student Lane McLeod said, among other improvements for cycling, allowing cycling on campus should be looked into.