The first phase of Tasman District Council’s Richmond Streets for People programme is underway with a test installation of separated cycle lanes on Salisbury Road.

This is the beginning of a project that comes with $2.4m in Government funding that will create a network of safe walking and cycling spaces across Richmond.

Another project, which received $840,000 from the Government, is underway on Māpua’s Aranui Road.

Over the past three months, a group of community representatives have worked alongside council traffic engineers to produce their preferred designs.

Transportation Manager Jamie McPherson says on Salisbury Road, cycle lanes that are about two metres wide are being installed on either side of the road with 800mm high plastic separators creating a distance between the vehicle lane and riders.

The test area is between the two raised crossings outside Waimea Intermediate School.

Jamie McPherson says it is an exciting step forward for making our urban streets safer and delivering on the other goals of the Council’s Walking and Cycling Strategy.

“It’s a bit like planting a tree – many of the benefits will be reaped in the future rather than immediately. The real prize we are working towards is a comprehensive, linked-up network of safe paths and cycleways.”

To allow space for the new separated cycle lanes, the existing painted median is being narrowed.

Jamie McPherson says changes to street layouts can be confronting for people so we expect to receive a range of feedback, which will be carefully considered in the current and future stages of the project.

“We will install this infrastructure permanently in the future once we’ve received feedback and tweaked the layout if necessary.”

Year 11 Garin College student Nate Wilbourne faces the traffic every day when cycling to school so signed up for the community working group to try and improve the situation.

He says the Streets for People programme lays the foundations of safer cycling and walking into the future.

“It’s about seeing the long game and improving the situation now for future generations.”

Nate Wilbourne says being part of the working group has been very worthwhile.

“Interacting with other people from the community and sharing differing perspectives to achieve a worthwhile outcome is very pleasing.”

Nate is keen to continue as a member of the working group and is keen to encourage a few more of his college peers to join the Streets for People project.

Salisbury Road is just the first site of the Streets for People project. Wensley Road, Queen Street, Hill Street and Champion Road will be going through a similar co-design process in the coming months.