Councillors voted last week to approve permanent speed limit reductions for the Arrowtown town centre, the unsealed section of Beacon Point Rd, a section of Mount Aspiring Rd (near the Roy’s Peak car park), a section of Cemetery Rd and Ballantyne Rd, as well as extending the Wanaka urban traffic area.
They also agreed to the new speed signs being installed over the next seven months before November 30.
Active Transport spokesman Simon Telfer said residents of all ages and abilities emerged during the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown to ride bikes because it was safe to do so.
"Now would be the perfect time to actually change the street signs to 40kmh to play a small part in continuing the benefits of lockdown," he said.
Council policy, standards and assets planner Polly Lambert said the council had yet to call for tenders for the signage installation.
"Depending on this and the capacity of contractors given the current climate, I don’t have a set programme for delivery," she said.
Wanaka ward councillor Quentin Smith said the council was programming the rollout of the speed signage as soon as it could.
"While we would love to be in line with reopening after lockdown, it won’t be too far down the track," he said.
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Cyclists, increase speed now : Motorist
Make sure you keep to single file and not 4 abreast on busy roads and motorways ... and remember it was your choice to take on cars, trucks, buses etc. !
Also, with winter approaching, make sure you have lights and or reflectors on your bicycle ... I came VERY close to taking a few of your fellow peddlers last year because they didn't have any lights on and were wearing dark clothing which made them damn near impossible to see at night.
Please remember you are not the only road users and lycra isn't kevla ... you cost rate & tax payers millions to build you special cycleways and paint the roads green for your protection, so how about you use some common sense when using the roads as well ...
Hi Concerned. Most important thing for motorists is to drive carefully and be alert, and please be on the look out for cyclists, especially as some may not have easy to see colours. And, be on the look out for pedestrians, who also may not have easy to see colours, and motorbikes, and cats crossing the road to get home. When it comes to using roads, we are all in this together. Cars and trucks do more damage when they hit cyclists, motorbike riders, pedestrians, or cats/hawks/dogs. So please, be alert. Thanks.