Concern at north cycleway dangers

North Dunedin's new cycleway has been labelled dangerous by some cyclists, who worry about being ''doored'' and say they cannot avoid pedestrians who wander on to the road.

The new cycleway, due to be completed later in the year, is being constructed by the NZ Transport Agency on the North Dunedin one-way system in a bid to make cycling safer.

The area is overrepresented in accident statistics, including cyclist fatalities.

Cycling Otago president Paula Hasler said yesterday she knew of cyclists who were avoiding the lanes as they were too dangerous.

She was aware of two cyclists who had had accidents after colliding with pedestrians on the new cycleways, including one who attended hospital with facial injuries.

The concrete bollards were wide, but the lanes themselves were narrow in places and it was hard for cyclists to avoid hitting pedestrians who stepped out in front of them, especially if the cyclists were travelling at speed.

She was concerned a fatal accident was possible.

''I'm a very experienced cyclist, and I'm actually quite fearful of using those lanes,'' she said.

''I guess I didn't realise how narrow they were going to be,'' she said.

Greg Bouwer said he had been a commuter cyclist in Dunedin for about 14 years, but he had never been almost ''doored'' as many times as he had while using the new northbound cycle lane, which runs on the right-hand side of Great King St.

He now avoided the cycleways, and rode along George St instead.

NZTA projects team manager Simon Underwood said the agency was continuing to receive feedback.

''There will be a period of learning as all road users become familiar with the new layout, and again we'd like to receive more comments on this,'' Mr Underwood said.

''We are only aware of one non-serious crash involving cyclists in Dunedin in recent days.''

Ms Hasler said the northbound cycle lane ended by the Botanic Garden at the moment, meaning people had to cross two lanes of traffic to keep travelling towards Pine Hill.

Dunedin cyclists Nicki Hall and Damien Garrett both said they felt ''safer'' with the barriers up.

However Mr Garrett said he was concerned by cars parking in the path of cyclists, which he described as ''mindless''.

Mr Bouwer said one of the big issues for him was people either trying to park and then driving out, or parking, walking around their cars and then stepping into the cycle lane.

Mr Underwood said, as sections of the cycleway were completed, it would become clear ''where parking is permitted and provided for, and where it isn't''.

Ms Hasler said she thought the NZTA should give the cycle lanes a chance to ''bed in'', but if more accidents occurred they should be reconsidered.

The new lanes did make it less likely there would be a collision between a cyclist and a car, she said.

elena.mcphee@odt.co.nz