New cycle lanes in the middle of State Highway 1 through central Dunedin are "incredibly dangerous", the Automobile Association says.
But the New Zealand Transport Agency says they were located in the safest place, eliminating the need for cyclists to travel in and cross over turning lanes.
AA Otago District Council vice-chairman Jack Crawford said the branch had "grave concerns" about the recent placement of the cycle lanes on parts of State Highway 1 through Dunedin city, particularly on the northbound one-way near Queens Gardens and at the intersection of Andersons Bay Rd and the Caversham bypass motorway.
In each case, the cycle lanes were sandwiched between two lanes of vehicular traffic, in a setting where many cars, trucks and buses changed lanes, crossing the cycle lanes in the process.
"This is an incredibly dangerous scenario for cyclists, as often they will be obscured from view by the driver who is changing lanes."
Some "frightening" near misses had already been observed and reported to the association.
"In our view, cycle lanes should be established where cyclists most naturally travel, i.e. usually as safely as practicable to the left, or to the right on one-way roads."
NZTA regional director Bruce Richards said the cycle lanes ran to the left of through lanes for other traffic.
They had been placed between turning lanes and through lanes, because where there was a turning lane, it was safer for cyclists to stay alongside the through lanes rather then cycle within the turning lane for prolonged distances.
Motorists wanting to cross the cycle lane still had to be considerate of other road users, he said.
In Andersons Bay Rd, in particular, motorists were able to select their desired lane before the cycle lane was encountered, minimising the need to cross the cycle lane, he said.
NZTA would monitor the cycle lanes to see if further safety work was needed. That might include highlighting cycle lanes around traffic "pinch-points", such as intersections and lane change areas, Mr Richards said.
A cyclist approaching Queens Gardens said the lane could be "pretty hairy" at times, but the danger posed was no greater than the usual problems with Dunedin motorists, who were generally not very courteous to cyclists.
However, he did think cyclists needed to be more aware of traffic from both sides, with the cycle lane in the middle of the street.
