Far North's first dedicated cycle lane now open

The Far North's first dedicated cycle lane on Waipapa Road at Kerikeri is now officially "open."

The new facility for cyclists was constructed as part of a road widening and redevelopment programme for Waipapa Road and extends between Landing Road and the Kerikeri Heritage Bypass junction.

The Council plans to extend the cycle lane to State Highway 10 at Waipapa over the next two years. The project is the first step in a longer term programme to progressively extend the cycle lane network across the district as government subsidies become available.

The new lane also links with the existing shared walkway and cycleway on the Heritage Bypass. But unlike the shared facility, the Waipapa Road cycle lane is an area in which cyclists generally have predominant rights and other road users must give way.

In general, the only time other vehicles can use a cycle lane is if a driver needs to cross the cycle lane in order to turn into another road or into an adjoining property.

The vehicle transgressing into the cycle lane is required to give way to cyclists and cannot stop or park within the lane- even temporarily. The same rules also apply to motorbikes.

On the other hand if there is a group of cyclists using the lane, they cannot ride more than two abreast and they cannot inhibit the movement of traffic in other lanes. In all other respects, cyclists are bound by the same rules of the road as motorists, whether or not they are riding in a dedicated lane.