Half Moon Bay residents say their enjoyment of a picturesque path is compromised by disruption on two wheels, writes Candice Reed
Mary Pepping is a regular walker on the Wakaaranga Creek reserve walkway. She smiles, waves and stops for a chat with other regulars and welcomes new walkers with an encouraging nod.
The Half Moon Bay resident of 16 years walks along the 5km Rotary-built path - which winds around the Wakaaranga Creek towards Pakuranga - any time she can.
The attraction for Mrs Pepping is being able to reflect, while ambling through the wetlands and bird sanctuary, home for 37 different species.
But it's not always peaceful. Mrs Pepping is concerned some cyclists are using the walkway with little consideration for pedestrians, especially the elderly and those walking dogs.
Mrs Pepping says signs were recently changed from ``Cyclists give way to pedestrians' to ``Share with care'.
It's not the cyclists themselves Mrs Pepping objects to, it's the unclear rules which make the walkway increasingly dangerous for pedestrians.
``There are no vehicle fumes and it's very peaceful, but you lose that peace when you have people racing their bikes,' she says.
``If bikes don't have rules, then it's no longer a safe place for pedestrians.'
On Monday, Mrs Pepping asked Pakuranga Community Board for help. She wants signs dotted along the path changed back to the original large blue and white ones which clearly stated the rules.
``They were really effective,' she says.
``If someone was racing along the path on their bike and saw an old person or anyone, they would know to get off and give way to that person.'
Since raising the issue, Mrs Pepping has heard stories of cyclists riding between walkers and their dogs, tangling up the dog leads and even injuring some dogs. Others have complained about the speed of cyclists, lack of riding lights and cyclists splattering mud over walkers in winter.
``I'm not elderly and I don't walk a dog, but I care enough for these people to say something,' adds Mrs Pepping.
In Manukau City Council promotional material, cyclists are encouraged and asked to give way to pedestrians because ``established paths are not wide enough to accommodate separate pedestrian and cycle lanes'.
The issue will be discussed by the community board this week.
Is it a walkway, a cycleway or both? Email your opinion to letters@theaucklander.co.nz
Time for bikes to move over
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.