Cyclists gear up for Papanui to city route

People keen to give cycling a go now have another cycleway to ride on.

The 5km-long Papanui Parallel Cycleway, which runs from Northlands Shopping Centre to the central city, was officially opened today by Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

St Albans brothers Luka Moeller, 4, and Wolfgang, 7, joined Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Mayor Lianne Dalziel to celebrate the opening of the Papanui Parallel.

It is one of a network 13 major cycleways that are being built in Christchurch to encourage more people to cycle.

“The Papanui Parallel is a vital route for the northern part of the city and is expected to attract many new commuters, shoppers and recreational cyclists,’’ Ms Dalziel said.

“A huge amount of community input went into this cycleway. Six hundred and fifty-six submissions were received, 265 people attended drop-in sessions and more than 80 changes were made as a result of public feedback.

“I would like to thank the community for their involvement and their patience while construction has taken place. Retrofitting new infrastructure into existing streets is never an easy process,’’ the Mayor said.

The Papanui Parallel will connect to the Northern Line Cycleway where Sawyers Arms Rd meets the railway line and will link to the shared path being built as part of the Christchurch Northern Corridor motorway improvements.

More cycleways to come

In the next few months the first stage of the Rapanui-Shag Cycleway and the Uni-Cycle route will be completed.

Work will also start on the Quarryman’s Trail, the Northern Line, and the second stages of the Rapanui—Shag Rock Cycleway and the Heathcote Expressway.

“It is exciting to see these routes moving forward so quickly,’’ Ms Dalziel said. “As a network of cycleways starts to form around the city we will see more and more people giving cycling a try.’’