Old Manawatu River Bridge Survey

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.

Old Manawatu River Bridge

The old bridge over the Manawatu River is due for demolition now that the new bridge over the river and the spillway is complete.
However, the concerns of cyclists are that the new facility is not suitable to ride across as there is not sufficient lane width the ride safely and add to this, there are storm water grates, un-ridable by cyclists every eighty metres or so.

There is a strong push from locals to keep the old bridge and make it available to cyclists, walkers etc to cross the river safely. Once across the river there is a land based cycle way to cross the spillway.

NZTA are asking for input by way of a survey – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WXNS87S

Even if you are unlikely to ride across the bridge but support the idea of a safe cycle way on State Highway 1 please complete the survey to that end.

Thank You

Survey closes 5pm Friday 18 December

The full survey internet address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WXNS87S