This week we turned on the new lights along the Railway Reserve between Beatson Road and St Vincent Street, making this popular cycleway and walkway safer and more convenient.
It’s about improving transport choices. I am proud that Nelson has the highest proportion of people in NZ commuting to work by bicycle. The Railway Reserve is one of our key cycleways but in winter it is too dark early morning and late afternoon for commuters. We should provide lighting for cyclists and walkers, just as we provide lighting on main roads for vehicles.
This $530,000 Council project has been completed on budget and ahead of schedule for which thanks are due to our Council transport team and contractor Powertech. We have also secured the funding to extend this lighting along the Railway Reserve from Beatson Road past Annesbrook and Stoke to Bunnings. This 5km section will be completed over the next year.
This lighting does not just improve Nelson for cyclists. I’m struggling to find daylight hours for my training for the New York City Marathon and loved being able to train along this route at 8pm over the weekend with the new lighting. It also means there are more hours when Nelsonians can take their dog or themselves for a walk.
We have a great network of walkways and cycleways. My children, home for a mid-year break from Otago Uni, commented over the weekend that they missed Nelson’s pathways as much as our sunshine. Lighting is just one of many improvements we need to continue to make to this network to ensure we stay the most active and healthy city in NZ.
Episode 10 - Saving her daughter and building a new life. — The Nelson Pod
Nelson’s biking reputation has been further enhanced this week with the securing of the 2024 and 2025 Enduro MTB National Championships, which attract hundreds of visitors to the region. Big thanks to the Nelson Mountain Bike Club and Cable Bay Adventure Park. This great event helps showcase our Coppermine, Great Taste, Old Ghost Road and Heaphy trails, and the Kaiteriteri and Wairoa Gorge Mountain Bike Parks for visitors.
We are proudly making our city the biking capital of NZ.
