When Christchurch gets something between its teeth, it really makes a meal of it.

One example would be the stoush that happened when the University of Canterbury thought it might build a new music school building at the Arts Centre. That was pre-earthquake but, man alive, that really got peoples’ knickers in a twist.

The latest example is the stoush over the so-called “temporary” cycleway on Rolleston Ave and Park Terrace. The stretch of road that goes from the Antigua Boat Sheds, past the museum, past Christ’s College and the George Hotel, up to Salisbury Street.

Which is an absolutely nutbar arrangement which all started when the city council transport people got a bit concerned about cyclists and pedestrians being put at risk by the development work going on at Canterbury Museum.

And so they thought that closing a lane of traffic, turning it into a cycleway, and making that stretch of road one-lane, instead of two, was the answer.

And with the museum re-development being quite a long-term project, it meant that this so-called “temporary” cycleway would be in place for five years - which had the mayor and some councillors thumping the table claiming they knew nothing about it.

Phil Mauger accused his council staff of “running amok” and said they needed to be “reined in”. They were his actual words - “they’re running amok and they need to be reined in”.

He also described his transport staff as "the anti-car brigade". Again, another direct quote.

Councillor Aaron Keown and Councillor James Gough weren’t happy either. All of them claiming that they didn’t know a thing about it - or thought they were going to be asked again whether they wanted it or not, before it actually happened.

There’s been some confusion or dispute on that front because other councillors have been quick to point out that the report that went to councillors made it clear that it was going to happen and that it was going to be there for five years - as a temporary measure.

There’s also been a lot of noise at council headquarters about the mayor and James Gough and Aaron Keown breaching their code of conduct, which says councillors must not publicly criticise council staff.

And I know for a fact that the mayor and those councillors got a good ticking off from the head of the transport unit for shooting their mouths off in public and accusing her staff of being sneaky, as they did.

I think it’s fair to say that their tails have been well-and-truly between their legs ever since, because they know they were probably heading towards some sort of personal grievance being laid against them if they didn’t pull their heads in.

Either way, the council put it out for consultation and gave the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board the job of listening to all the pros and cons and coming up with a recommendation for the council to make a final decision on.

So yesterday it sat through seven hours of submissions and presentations and, even though I think the set-up on Park Terrace is ridiculous, it sounds to me like some of the people opposed to the cycleway said some pretty crazy, over-the-top things.

One guy wouldn't sit down when he spoke, and there’s a photo of him in the paper this morning really letting rip.

And a well-known local property developer told community board members that Christchurch has been “taken over by cyclists”. Which is absolute nonsense, isn’t it?

Nevertheless, I think the Community Board has got it wrong and I can’t see how it thinks the pop-up cycleway is the best way to make things safer for everyone while the museum redevelopment work is done.

As others have pointed out, there is so much wide footpath in that area that it would be easy for cyclists and pedestrians to share. There’s also the grass verge that could have very easily been turned into a separate cycle lane if that’s what they wanted to have.

But, oh no, they had to go and take away a traffic lane and turn into a cycle lane. And, after weighing up the pros and cons and hearing the views of those for and those against yesterday, the local community board reckons it’s a great idea and is going to be recommending to the council that it stay as it is.

With one exception, though: and that’s taking away the bus stop that, at the moment, is in the middle of the road - and putting it closer to the footpath. That little change, by the way, is going to cost the council an extra $150,000.

So far, it’s spent $550,000 on the project - so once the bus stop changes are made, it will have cost us $700,000 all up.

$700,000 on a nutbar idea that, as far as I’m concerned, is way over-the-top and unnecessary when you consider the other ways it could’ve achieved the exact same thing.

When Christchurch gets something between its teeth, it really makes a meal of it.
One example would be the stoush that happened when the University of Canterbury thought it might build a new music school building at the Arts Centre. That was pre-earthquake but, man alive, that really got peoples’ knickers in a twist.
The latest example is the stoush over the so-called “temporary” cycleway on Rolleston Ave and Park Terrace. The stretch of road that goes from the Antigua Boat Sheds, past the museum, past Christ’s College and the George Hotel, up to Salisbury Street.
Which is an absolutely nutbar arrangement which all started when the city council transport people got a bit concerned about cyclists and pedestrians being put at risk by the development work going on at Canterbury Museum.
And so they thought that closing a lane of traffic, turning it into a cycleway, and making that stretch of road one-lane, instead of two, was the answer.
And with the museum re-development being quite a long-term project, it meant that this so-called “temporary” cycleway would be in place for five years - which had the mayor and some councillors thumping the table claiming they knew nothing about it.
Phil Mauger accused his council staff of “running amok” and said they needed to be “reined in”. They were his actual words - “they’re running amok and they need to be reined in”.
He also described his transport staff as "the anti-car brigade". Again, another direct quote.
Councillor Aaron Keown and Councillor James Gough weren’t happy either. All of them claiming that they didn’t know a thing about it - or thought they were going to be asked again whether they wanted it or not, before it actually happened.
There’s been some confusion or dispute on that front because other councillors have been quick to point out that the report that went to councillors made it clear that it was going to happen and that it was going to be there for five years - as a temporary measure.
There’s also been a lot of noise at council headquarters about the mayor and James Gough and Aaron Keown breaching their code of conduct, which says councillors must not publicly criticise council staff.
And I know for a fact that the mayor and those councillors got a good ticking off from the head of the transport unit for shooting their mouths off in public and accusing her staff of being sneaky, as they did.
I think it’s fair to say that their tails have been well-and-truly between their legs ever since, because they know they were probably heading towards some sort of personal grievance being laid against them if they didn’t pull their heads in.
Either way, the council put it out for consultation and gave the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board the job of listening to all the pros and cons and coming up with a recommendation for the council to make a final decision on.
So yesterday it sat through seven hours of submissions and presentations and, even though I think the set-up on Park Terrace is ridiculous, it sounds to me like some of the people opposed to the cycleway said some pretty crazy, over-the-top things.
One guy wouldn't sit down when he spoke, and there’s a photo of him in the paper this morning really letting rip.
And a well-known local property developer told community board members that Christchurch has been “taken over by cyclists”. Which is absolute nonsense, isn’t it?
Nevertheless, I think the Community Board has got it wrong and I can’t see how it thinks the pop-up cycleway is the best way to make things safer for everyone while the museum redevelopment work is done.
As others have pointed out, there is so much wide footpath in that area that it would be easy for cyclists and pedestrians to share. There’s also the grass verge that could have very easily been turned into a separate cycle lane if that’s what they wanted to have.
But, oh no, they had to go and take away a traffic lane and turn into a cycle lane. And, after weighing up the pros and cons and hearing the views of those for and those against yesterday, the local community board reckons it’s a great idea and is going to be recommending to the council that it stay as it is.
With one exception, though: and that’s taking away the bus stop that, at the moment, is in the middle of the road - and putting it closer to the footpath. That little change, by the way, is going to cost the council an extra $150,000.
So far, it’s spent $550,000 on the project - so once the bus stop changes are made, it will have cost us $700,000 all up.
$700,000 on a nutbar idea that, as far as I’m concerned, is way over-the-top and unnecessary when you consider the other ways it could’ve achieved the exact same thing.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

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Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.