Better Cycleway for Karori

By Frank Neill

There is a “much better” route for cycle lanes than the one Wellington City Council is promoting along Karori Rod, Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung says.

It would run along Ranelagh, Darwin and Friend Streets, running to Hatton St, at which point

cyclists could continue onto Homewood Ave or rejoin Karori Road.

Some cyclists, in fact, are already using the route.

“To me it seems an obvious route to take,” the Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward Councillor says.

“This route runs parallel to the main street [Karori Road].

“Not only is it a wide street but it’s a quiet street.”

Placing the cycleway along those street would take the pressure off Karori road and take the

pressue off the businesses, Cr Chung says.

“To me it is really win-win.”

When he had asked council officers about why they had not opted for this alternative route they had said it was because cyclists would have to ride further.

However that route was not only safer it would also men that Karori Road would not lose around 110 very well used car parks.

A council officer had also told him that the plan was to remove only 30 car parks from Karori Road.

However that was not true,

“I think that [the route along Ranelagh, Darwin and Friend Streets] is much better as the main cycleway through Karori.

“I’m going to keep pushing for this,” Cr Chung says.