Season of Cycling News

If you thought the road was changing colour beneath your bike - you'd be right!

Since the beginning of this year, Christchurch City Council and New Zealand Transport Agency have been painting new cycle lanes green and changing existing lanes from red to green when they need refreshing.

"While we were happy with the performance of red cycle lanes, we decided to support national guidelines and have green ones," says Michael Ferigo, Council Transport Planner.

Christchurch was the first city in New Zealand to colour surface cycle lanes, to make the lanes more visible to other road users. The paint also contains grit to make the surface less slick without disrupting other traffic and research indicates the green is a lot safer.

More good news for cyclists is that new cycle lanes are currently being put in to improve safety and traffic flow around the city.

This week, one went into Kilmore Street, between Fitzgerald Avenue and Madras Street, and another is getting underway on Linwood Avenue, between Tilford and Worcester Streets.

Next week a cycle lane will be installed on Stanmore Road from North Avon Road to Avonside Drive, which will include a signalised crossing and a traffic island for cyclists and pedestrians.

Image caption: Green cycle lane recently put in on Bealey Avenue heading towards the Hills Road Bus Lanes.