Call for ban on cyclists using bridge road lanes

An avid Tauranga cyclist wants to ban bicycles from using the sides of the road across Tauranga's new Harbour Bridge and approach roads.
Shane Plummer said Harbour Link's design had serious shortfalls that would likely see a cyclist killed if they opted to use the road instead of the adjoining footpath/cycleway.
He highlighted a "grossly inadequate" width along the shoulder of Hewletts Rd where it passed near the fertiliser works wall.
Mr Plummer was also fearful of the limited passing distance on the new bridge, predicting cyclists would be forced to swerve dangerously to avoid stormwater drains that protruded into the shoulder of the road - both on the bridge and the new approach roads.
His comments followed the deaths this year of two Dutch and German cycling tourists who were hit by trucks at Te Puke and Bayfair on March 12 and May 29. Harbour Link's project manager Kevin Reid said cyclists were allowed to use the side of the road, although he had personally never seen them anywhere except on the footpath/cycleway.
"The safe cycling message is to stay behind the barrier."
The project had been designed to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe, although he understood that the odd one or two continued to cycle on the side of the road.
Mr Reid said there was enough width on the 1.2m shoulder of road across the bridge for a confident cyclist to be reasonably safe. This will widen to 1.5m off the bridge.
"We would prefer cyclists used the off-road facility - that is much safer in a high speed environment."
He stressed that the current lines differentiating the main carriageway from the shoulder of the road along the new Mount approach to the bridge should not be regarded as permanent.
He said traffic had been pushed as far towards the Bridge Marina as possible while the old side of the road was rebuilt.
As for the stormwater drains, Mr Reid said they had been designed to be as flat as possible without compromising their function. There was a one-metre gap between the white line and edge of the grating off the bridge and a 750mm gap on the bridge.
He has received no complaints about the combined footpath/cycleway, saying it was a world of difference to what had been provided on the old bridge.
"It is safe to take your kids on - there is no comparison between the two."
There were safe connections between the bridge's footpath/cycleway and connecting roads.
Mr Reid suspected the cyclists who might typically stick to the road were those doing long-distance training.
They did not like disruptions, but very few in numbers compared to those who preferred for the safety of the footpath/cycleway.