''It's not ideal.''
The summation was made last week by Dunedin City councillor Jinty MacTavish in response to the cost blowout of the South Dunedin Cycle Network, its enforced reduction, and the potential impact it could have on other parts of the city's cycleway network.
The city's ''Strategic Cycle Network'' - a group of cycle routes that connect Dunedin's key destinations - has divided public opinion.
Last week the DCC pared back plans for the South Dunedin network as the true costs of the project became apparent.
The network will be reduced by almost half (to 14.8km of the original 25km) but will cost $1 million more than the original estimate and budget of $4 million for the entire network.
It was further revealed, based on what the council now knows about the true construction costs, it could cost $7.85 million to complete the network as originally envisaged.
The blowout also has potential to eat into funding set aside for other parts of the network.
Cycleway proponents may feel Cr MacTavish's words are an understatement.
Opponents, particularly in controversial areas like the Forbury Rd end of Victoria Rd, will likely welcome the news.
There will also be those who feel the cost explosion is another case of deja vu, and fear ratepayers may be left paying the price in one form or another, and those who feel the council has been poor in its consultation.
Councils are expected, however, to provide infrastructure for all ratepayers, and in a variety of forms.
The argument cyclists are in the minority and so should not be catered for is moot for this reason.
Providing safe, accessible and functional access for residents is one of the basics.
This includes safe footpaths and crossings for pedestrians, including the partially sighted or wheelchair-bound.
It includes safe roads and intersections for motorcyles and cars, bypasses for heavy trucks, bus lanes, stops and shelters for public transport users.
It includes bike parks and skateboard parks, and catering for those users on- and off-road - and acknowledging their safety is compromised when mixing with larger, faster traffic.
Proponents believe the more people are aware of the cycleways and the more confident they become, the more they will be used - as has been the case overseas.
Parking is one of the touchstone issues.
Business has a right to be concerned, and it has been pleasing to see the council make some cycleway changes around Dunedin Public Hospital to increase the number of mobility parks available for visitors.
Consultation with affected parties seems to be the real sticking point in this instance, and perhaps more can be done to reach compromises.
Businesses will be aware cyclists are cafe-goers, shoppers, consumers and workers, too.
And it is also worth noting cycle trails have already proved great business boons for small towns and rural areas, and can contribute to the mix of a vibrant city too, and be part of the national cycle network.
That said, the increased cost is concerning, particularly if it means an unexpected increase for ratepayers, and it is right the council has changed its original plans to avoid a much bigger blowout.
One wonders how the sums could have been quite so wrong, even given the council's claims accurate costs could not be known until part of the work was done because no New Zealand city had built such a network before.
Such mistakes do, after all, affect the faith and confidence of ratepayers in officialdom.
It is to be hoped the New Zealand Transport Agency may cover most of the extra $1 million required, as it has already contributed the bulk of cycleway funding.
(And it is worth noting the cost of the South Dunedin network pales into comparison next to the major roading project in that area at the moment, the $25 million Caversham highway improvements.)
For all that, the biggest barrier to the city's cycleways remains one of attitude.
Rather than an ''us and them'' mentality, more care, consideration and respect for all users needs to be encouraged so we might all be able to truly ''share the road'', for whatever purpose, as we go about our daily lives.
