22 Feb 2017

Could cyclists get the green light to run reds?

1:00 pm on 22 February 2017

The Transport Agency says it is a long way from allowing cyclists to run red lights.

The report considered allowing cyclists to go through a red light turning left or going across a T-intersection.

The report considered allowing cyclists to go through a red light turning left or going across a T-intersection. Photo: 123RF

A report commissioned by the agency has looked at allowing children and their parents to ride on footpaths - that's led to protests that it would put pedestrians' safety at risk.

The agency's cycling manager Dougal List said the report also considered allowing cyclists to go through a red light turning left, or going across a T-intersection.

He said the report found the idea needed a lot more thought before it could be considered for implementation.

"We do need to ensure that it's well considered to ensure that it's resulting in unintended consequences or impacts on other road users, so it's very much about considering the policy options, looking at trials and really working through that process is a quite considered way."

Mr List said the idea would need to be trialled before going any further.

He said the Transport Agency is trailing phases of pedestrian crossings at traffic lights which also have a phase for people on bikes in Christchurch and Wellington and that was working well.

Mr List said the government has invested $330 million into urban cycleways programme, but there has never been this level of development of cycleways in New Zealand.

"And what it's throwing up is some challenges of how do we design these to be safe for people on bikes, while also ensuring that all other road users are safe too."

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