New Central Park Drive decision a win-win for cyclists and local business

A Waitakere City Council decision to increase car parking provision on Central Park Drive alongside the introduction of a new cycleway offers the best solution for both cyclists and local business, it says.

The council’s Infrastructure and Works Committee this week agreed to allow detailed design work to begin on a cycleway project for Central Park Drive with an additional recommendation to remove No Stopping At All Times parking restrictions on Central Park Drive between the Universal Drive extension and Te Pai Place.

This will enable the creation of 10 additional on-street car parks for the area.

The decision was made in response to concerns raised by local business owners that the cycleway would reduce the amount of on-street parking available to their customers.

“We have listened to what the businesses had to say and reassessed the options to come up with a solution that best meets the city’s need for dedicated cycling infrastructure while also as addressing business parking concerns,” says Infrastructure and Works Committee chairman, Councillor Derek Battersby.

The cycleway project for the area involves a combination of on-road cycle lanes and off-road shared (pedestrian and cycle) paths. These will be introduced in 2009.

On-road cycle lanes will be on the southern side of Central Park Drive between Lincoln Road and the north-western cycle link and on one side of Central Park Drive between Henderson Creek Bridge and Te Pai Place.

Off-road shared paths will run from Lincoln Road on the northern side of Central Park Drive to the north-western cycle link as well as between Henderson Creek Bridge and Te Pai Place and in front of The Trusts Stadium from Te Pai Place to the Universal Drive extension.

The cycleways plan provides for 20 recessed car parking bays on the south side of Central Park Drive between Collard Place and Lincoln Road, which will be restricted to 180 minutes during business hours and a flush median from Universal Drive Extension to Collard Place to allow for a safe movement of traffic.