New Road Marking Trial – Sharrow

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

In 2012, the Road Controlling Authority (RCA) Research and Guidelines Steering Group agreed to establish a national cycling signs and markings working group. This new working group convened in 2012 and its membership contained a mix of Road Controlling Authorities throughout NZ.

Sharrow Trial 1 This group agreed to undertake trials on a number of markings to further define a cycle lane, a shared lane and the safest route for cyclists.

The need for a shared lane marking within the NZ context has arisen due to the need to try and provide an additional ‘toolbox’ measure to help in the design of infrastructure. Internationally the use of shared lane markings has, on the whole, proved successful in improving safety, way finding and awareness of cyclist routes. The RCA working group identified ‘sharrow markings’ and ‘supplementary cycle lane’ markings for trial.

The two markings approved in May 2014 by the Traffic Control Devices (TCD) Steering Committee for trial in Palmerston North, are as pictured on the right: Sharrow trial suplamentary

Auckland Transport helped paved the way for the trial conditions, and monitoring of the Palmerston North research is consistent with Auckland Transport’s methodology and analysis. Details of Auckland Transport’s trial sites can be found at https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/sharrow-road-marking-trial/.

Palmerston North City Council is undertaking its trial for six months, in conjunction with Nelson and Dunedin City Councils. PN City Council Officers have carefully selected sites appropriate to the trial conditions that are set by the RCA Steering committee. Those sites are:
• Broadway Avenue – between Princess Street and The Square (coming June 2014);
• College Street – between Victoria Avenue and Albert Street (coming July 2014).
The supplementary “LANE” marking trial will be undertaken along:
• Broadway Avenue, from Victoria Avenue to Princess Street;
• College Street, from Victoria Avenue to Fitzherbert Avenue;
• Victoria Avenue, from Broadway Avenue to College Street.
Palmerston North City Council will be conducting the following surveys as part of the trial:
• video recording to observe road user behaviour,
• installing tube counters to measure traffic volumes and vehicle speeds,
• road user perception survey to investigate the public’s perception of the markings.

The research aims to identify road user’s natural/instinctive reaction and perception to the meaning of the marking. The resulting analysis of this nationally conducted trial will help determine whether New Zealand Standards are adjusted to support further introduction throughout New Zealand.
Your feedback of these markings is important to us and we need to hear what you have to say