- c/ ViaStrada Ltd
PO Box 22-458
Christchurch 8140
NEW ZEALAND
- Director and Senior Transportation Engineer with ViaStrada Ltd
Adjunct Senior Fellow at University of Canterbury
(Former Senior Lecturer at Canterbury 2004-16)edit
Marked on-road cycle lanes are a relatively inexpensive means of providing for cycling; however, their use in New Zealand has been questioned both in terms of their safety and their effectiveness in attracting more people to take up... more
Marked on-road cycle lanes are a relatively inexpensive means of providing for cycling; however, their use in New Zealand has been questioned both in terms of their safety and their effectiveness in attracting more people to take up cycling. While both questions have been previously researched locally, the findings have been rather inconclusive. A recent Engineering Masters research project investigated the relative effects on cycle count and crash numbers of installing a series of cycle lanes. Twelve routes installed in Christchurch during the mid-2000s were analysed, together with some control sites. Cycle count data from a series of route locations and dates were used to establish cycling trends before and after installation. These were also compared against cycle crash numbers along these routes during the same periods. The results generally show no consistent "step" increase in cycling numbers immediately following installation of cycle lanes, with some increasing and...
Traditionally, it has been assumed that side-friction coefficients on horizontal curves (a proxy measure for lateral acceleration) decrease with increasing design speed. The inference from this is that motorists tolerate lateral forces... more
Traditionally, it has been assumed that side-friction coefficients on horizontal curves (a proxy measure for lateral acceleration) decrease with increasing design speed. The inference from this is that motorists tolerate lateral forces more when traveling at slower speeds on tighter curves. This assumption is used in both horizontal curve design and when sign-posting advisory speeds on sub-standard curves. A recent study investigated the use of advisory speed signs on horizontal curves in New Zealand. Current traffic speed behavior on curves with advisory speed signs was observed in order to determine effectiveness and compliance. Minimum free speeds within each curve were recorded using a series of optical beams and sensors stationed around the curve. Curves were also assessed using a ball-bank indicator, driven around at various speeds to determine the appropriate advisory speed. The mean and 85th percentile observed speeds were compared with the inferred advisory speed values, us...
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Following five cycling deaths during November 2010, the Chief Coroner announced a national Inquiry to identify any common trends or information that could prevent a reoccurrence of such tragedies. To help inform this Inquiry, a larger... more
Following five cycling deaths during November 2010, the Chief Coroner announced a national Inquiry to identify any common trends or information that could prevent a reoccurrence of such tragedies. To help inform this Inquiry, a larger investigation into New Zealand cycling fatalities back to 2006 was undertaken, to try to identify any consistent patterns in crash occurrences that were significantly over-represented. From crash records and media reports, more than 90 cycling fatalities were identified between January 2006 and June 2013. A review of the relevant reports identified common attributes. Potential initiatives that could have prevented each fatality were also considered. Some notable trends were found. Older cyclists (>50 years) are very over-represented, despite their relatively low cycling involvement, and are also more likely to be at fault. The number of fatalities involving heavy vehicles and/or state highways was also higher than expected. Poor observation by drive...
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This paper describes the development of a system for recording and analyzing the data found from Safety Audits of Existing Roads, undertaken by Transfund New Zealand within various Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs). The resulting... more
This paper describes the development of a system for recording and analyzing the data found from Safety Audits of Existing Roads, undertaken by Transfund New Zealand within various Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs). The resulting database has been used for some years to identify common safety issues found in audits and to highlight these issues to practitioners. The authors summarizes the key findings from the 33 audits to date, on the topics including the relative safety performance of different road features (warning signs, surface condition, poles or other objects, pedestrians, intersection control, edge marker posts, shoulder slopes, drains, guard-rails, overtaking opportunities, passing lanes, and horizontal alignment), RCA groups, large cities versus smaller districts, and urban versus rural road networks. A final section discusses future developments in the Safety Audits of Existing Roads and the development of a more objective procedure to rank the finding of these audits,...
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The study found that Transfund's Project Evaluation Manual (PEM) does not currently provide many analysis tools relating to risk and reliability. Although qualitative assessment of the hazards facing the existing road network is often... more
The study found that Transfund's Project Evaluation Manual (PEM) does not currently provide many analysis tools relating to risk and reliability. Although qualitative assessment of the hazards facing the existing road network is often done at a strategic level, quantitative evaluation of projects designed to improve the reliability of the existing road network could be provided in the PEM. Link reliability should be considered when the project is located on or affects the reliability of a strategic link, if there are two or fewer alternative routes and the project costs or benefits exceed a specified minimal level. Draft procedures for incorporating the effects of link reliability into project evaluation are provided and it is suggested that they be trialled on relevant current or future projects. Areas requiring further research are identified and some methods for establishing failure rates of various hazards are also provided for guidance. This report develops project evaluati...
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Stage 2 of Transfund New Zealand's research project "Assessing Passing Opportunities" builds on initial work that investigated ways in which improved passing opportunities can be provided and analysed. The main objectives of... more
Stage 2 of Transfund New Zealand's research project "Assessing Passing Opportunities" builds on initial work that investigated ways in which improved passing opportunities can be provided and analysed. The main objectives of this research were: (1) to assess measures of driver frustration resulting from inadequate passing opportunities; (2) to determine the crash reduction potential of passing lanes in New Zealand; (3) to develop a simplified system for assessing the provision of passing lanes; (4) To assess optimum data requirements to calibrate TRARR for New Zealand conditions. A tangible willingness to pay for passing lanes due to frustration was determined. A number of factors were found to have an effect on passing lane crash rates, including crash type, crash location, and passing lane length. A simplified model for assessing the optimum location of passing lanes was developed. A comparison of both this model and TRARR with "before and after" field data...
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Vertical speed control devices have been found to effectively reduce vehicle speeds, particularly when used in a sequence. The placement of a device from the entrance of a street and from another device is crucial in maintaining low... more
Vertical speed control devices have been found to effectively reduce vehicle speeds, particularly when used in a sequence. The placement of a device from the entrance of a street and from another device is crucial in maintaining low speeds throughout a street. Studies were carried out to identify the design factors that significantly influence speed, and to find appropriate regression models for estimating 85th percentile and mean speeds along local streets calmed by speed humps and speed tables. Results show that, aside from the type of device, the most significant factor in determining speeds on streets with vertical deflections is the spacing between devices and the spacing of devices from the street entry. Also, S-curve models were found to best represent the relationships between inter-device speeds and spacings. One of the drawbacks is the noise produced when vehicles move over humps. To investigate the noise effect, studies were conducted on two Watts profile humps with diffe...
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Stage 2 of Transfund New Zealand's research project "Assessing Passing Opportunities" builds on initial work that investigated ways in which improved passing opportunities can be provided and analysed. The subsequent work... more
Stage 2 of Transfund New Zealand's research project "Assessing Passing Opportunities" builds on initial work that investigated ways in which improved passing opportunities can be provided and analysed. The subsequent work investigates the development of a simpler system to determine the need for, location of, and benefits to be derived from passing lanes. This paper discusses the findings of a driver frustration study, and some of the resulting implications for the development of a simplified system. Drivers' willingness to pay for additional passing opportunities was found to be significantly correlated with the easily measurable unsatisfied passing demand, although further work is required to refine the relationship. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. 492019.
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Motivated by the debate over whether busy streets within central city areas should be one-way traffic flow or two-way, a Masters’ project researched how this decision might be best made by local decision makers. The literature review... more
Motivated by the debate over whether busy streets within central city areas should be one-way traffic flow or two-way, a Masters’ project researched how this decision might be best made by local decision makers. The literature review found that were there are a range of reasons why streets are converted from one type of flow to another; the most common reason cited in the literature for converting one-way to two-way is to contribute to central city regeneration. However no clear link appears to have been established between the type of street system – one-way or two-way – and economic viability. It was also found that aspects such as pedestrian safety on one-way and two-way streets remain areas of strong debate. A series of industry interviews were undertaken, aimed at better understanding the views of various industries involved in planning our built environment, primarily transport and urban design; and the views of these professionals can often be in conflict. Dunedin is consider...
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Research carried out in 2001 examined the causes of cycle crashes on roads, footpaths, and cycle ways throughout New Zealand, through a survey of injured cyclists. Crashes due to impact with a moving motor vehicle were excluded, as the... more
Research carried out in 2001 examined the causes of cycle crashes on roads, footpaths, and cycle ways throughout New Zealand, through a survey of injured cyclists. Crashes due to impact with a moving motor vehicle were excluded, as the emphasis was on the role of road features in these crashes. Of these crashes 28 percent were due to road features, mainly to loose gravel and irregularities in the road surface. Other factors were the cyclists' own actions, bicycle problems, actions of others, and crashing when trying to avoid collision with another being or an object. Most crashes occurred in fine weather and in daylight, on straight roads, away from intersections, in urban areas. Two cycling crash patterns emerged from the study: crashes in urban areas mainly occurred when cyclists were using their cycle for transport, while crashes in 100km/h speed zones mainly involved those using their cycle for sports training. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD a...
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The majority of fatal and serious crashes occur on rural two lane roads. A number of research studies have attempted to quantify the effect of various road features on rural road crash rates. Policymakers are particularly interested in... more
The majority of fatal and serious crashes occur on rural two lane roads. A number of research studies have attempted to quantify the effect of various road features on rural road crash rates. Policymakers are particularly interested in where they should invest their money to drive down crashes, e.g. should they invest in rural realignments or road widening. Traffic engineers want to try and diagnose the safety problems on a particular road. This is difficult on low volume roads where crash numbers are low and crash patterns are not obvious. No existing crash prediction models allow analysts to look at all the key variables and their interactions. The purpose of this research is to develop a new crash prediction model with all the key variables. A sample set of the entire New Zealand two-lane State Highway network has been compiled. This paper covers the scoping and pilot phases of this study and the work that has been completed to date on the main study model. In addition, the paper...
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Transit New Zealand has been monitoring motor vehicle congestion levels and travel time variability twice yearly in Auckland and Wellington (since 2002), Tauranga (since 2003) and Christchurch (since 2004). People desire certainty in... more
Transit New Zealand has been monitoring motor vehicle congestion levels and travel time variability twice yearly in Auckland and Wellington (since 2002), Tauranga (since 2003) and Christchurch (since 2004). People desire certainty in planning their trips. They do not want to spend 15 minutes on one day for the trip to work and 25 minutes the next. Do we have the data we need to plan for certainty in transportation journey times? This paper looks at available data to understand congestion trends, travel time variability and fuel price and supply and looks at ways to provide certainty for transportation. The paper argues that more emphasis should be put on travel demand management and support for walking, cycling and public transport. In turn, these measures (and sustainable transportation in general) have the potential to make car travel times more predictable, thus enhancing the opportunities for planning for certainty. The paper also makes recommendations for developing a comprehen...
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Recent research investigated the use of curve advisory speed signs in New Zealand. A comprehensive literature review identified key issues to examine. Current t raffic speed b ehaviour was observed at the site of curve advisory speed... more
Recent research investigated the use of curve advisory speed signs in New Zealand. A comprehensive literature review identified key issues to examine. Current t raffic speed b ehaviour was observed at the site of curve advisory speed signs, using a series of optical sensors, in order to determine e ffectiveness and compliance. Alternative methods for determining curve advisory speeds, using road geometry data or accelerometer/gyro-based systems, were compared with ballbank surveys. The ex isting criteria and methods used for s etting curve advisory speeds in New Zealand were assessed in light of the above findings, and changes suggested.
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This research examines the speed profiles of individual vehicles on traffic-calmed streets in Christchurch, New Zealand, to provide a better understanding of how drivers react to calming devices over an extended street length and to find... more
This research examines the speed profiles of individual vehicles on traffic-calmed streets in Christchurch, New Zealand, to provide a better understanding of how drivers react to calming devices over an extended street length and to find ways of estimating speeds along such streets. The results indicate that traffic-calmed streets do not necessarily promote low speed environments. It was found that 85th percentile speeds at long distances from calming devices were 45-55 km/h for horizontally deflected streets and 40-45 km/h for vertically deflected streets. The speed hump and the angled slow point produced the biggest speed reductions, while the 2-way mid-block narrowings caused no significant speed changes. The results also show that drivers have different perceptions of the appropriate operating speed at such devices, as evidenced by variations in speeds at the devices. Standard deviations in speed at speed humps and raised angled slow points were smaller than those at speed table...
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Since 1992, New Zealand's 10,000 km State Highway network has been regularly surveyed to collect data on horizontal curvature, gradient and cross-fall at 10-m intervals. A number of initiatives have been developed that make use of... more
Since 1992, New Zealand's 10,000 km State Highway network has been regularly surveyed to collect data on horizontal curvature, gradient and cross-fall at 10-m intervals. A number of initiatives have been developed that make use of this valuable data source, particularly for rural highways. For example: general crash risk relationships based on Poisson generalized linear models have been developed that can identify the effect of changes to key geometric variables; speed profiles have been developed for highway strategic studies, enabling curves that are deficient to the surrounding road environment to be highlighted; comparisons of cross-fall and curvature enable sections of highway that fail to meet design standards to be readily identified; sight distances can be generated from the geometry data, to assist with the evaluation of passing lanes and no-overtaking areas; the effects of geometry on long-vehicle paths along routes have been used to estimate the required remedial inve...
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The state of the art of engineering knowledge has historically often improved following reviews of major disasters and engineering failures. It is not desirable however for professional engineers to only improve their understanding and... more
The state of the art of engineering knowledge has historically often improved following reviews of major disasters and engineering failures. It is not desirable however for professional engineers to only improve their understanding and skills by “learning from their mistakes”. A new final-year engineering course for Civil and Natural Resources Engineering students at the University of Canterbury aims to get students to learn more from other people’s past mistakes. A major component of this course is a group project where students investigate notable engineering “failures” from the past century and try to determine the causes behind them. As well as any direct technical reasons for each failure, students are challenged to identify the more “nontechnical” issues that contributed to the ultimate denouement, including human errors, ethical shortcomings, and regulatory omissions. Using this exercise, it is hoped that students will learn to recognise common “warning signs” in their future...
Pedestrian and motor vehicle activity varies both spatially and temporally throughout all transportation networks. A recent Engineering Masters study analysed pedestrian behaviours and characteristics at three signalised intersections in... more
Pedestrian and motor vehicle activity varies both spatially and temporally throughout all transportation networks. A recent Engineering Masters study analysed pedestrian behaviours and characteristics at three signalised intersections in Invercargill during different periods of the day and week. The study achieved the following findings: 1) The determination of 5th and 15th percentile walking speeds for different width signalised crosswalks. The current setting used by practitioners in NZ is 1.2 m/s. 2) The determination of average pedestrian delay intervals for non-compliant and compliant pedestrian movements at different width signalised crosswalks during various times of the day. These values have been compared with results from a similar NZTA research project for other cities in NZ. 3) The determination of values for the percentage of non-compliant pedestrian movements at different width signalised crosswalks. A measure of risk for these non-compliant pedestrian movements was al...
Transit New Zealand has been monitoring motor vehicle congestion levels and travel time variability twice yearly in Auckland and Wellington (since 2002), Tauranga (since 2003) and Christchurch (since 2004). People desire certainty in... more
Transit New Zealand has been monitoring motor vehicle congestion levels and travel time variability twice yearly in Auckland and Wellington (since 2002), Tauranga (since 2003) and Christchurch (since 2004). People desire certainty in planning their trips. They do not want to spend 15 minutes on one day for the trip to work and 25 minutes the next. Do we have the data we need to plan for certainty in transportation journey times? This paper looks at available data to understand congestion trends, travel time variability and fuel price and supply and looks at ways to provide certainty for transportation. The paper argues that more emphasis should be put on travel demand management and support for walking, cycling and public transport. In turn, these measures (and sustainable transportation in general) have the potential to make car travel times more predictable, thus enhancing the opportunities for planning for certainty. The paper also makes recommendations for developing a comprehen...
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The purpose of this study was to collect and analyse data to determine the extent that traffic flow (notably speed) is affected by on-street parking. Similar studies were done previously on major arterial roads; this research was... more
The purpose of this study was to collect and analyse data to determine the extent that traffic flow (notably speed) is affected by on-street parking. Similar studies were done previously on major arterial roads; this research was concentrated mainly on local streets. Ten roads in Christchurch of various widths were chosen, between 8m and 13m. Sites that had only on-street parking as the main hindrance to traffic flow were chosen, for the purpose of obtaining clear relationships. Observed speeds were recorded at various parking demand levels and then analysed. The results showed that the vehicular speeds fell noticeably with an increase in parking levels. On average, there was approximately a 10km/h reduction in mean speeds between empty and full on-street parking levels. An even bigger effect was noted in 85th percentile speeds. The magnitude of fall in speed varied only slightly based on the road widths. Further research, by increasing the number of sites and performing speed surve...
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This paper explores how cyclists can be accommodated at signalised intersections using specific cycle facilities and creating a more cycle-friendly environment by speed control. Guidance is given where cycle lanes should be placed and the... more
This paper explores how cyclists can be accommodated at signalised intersections using specific cycle facilities and creating a more cycle-friendly environment by speed control. Guidance is given where cycle lanes should be placed and the exceptions to the rules are explored. Advanced Stop Lines should be the standard treatment for cycle storage at the limit line, but advanced stop boxes can sometimes be more appropriate. Slip lanes and bypasses for cyclists can overcome some safety problems and increase the level of service. Experienced cyclists can most effectively be assisted with turning right by design measures on the intersection approach, whilst hook turns and special signal phases are available to support less competent cyclists. Cycle paths are complex to integrate into the operation of signalised cross intersections. Current New Zealand practice does not appear to be supported in law and a review is suggested. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD ...
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Pedestrian delays at crossing points are an important aspect of urban traffic planning. Accurate determination of these delays is critical to the correct selection of appropriate pedestrian crossing treatments. A recent study aimed to... more
Pedestrian delays at crossing points are an important aspect of urban traffic planning. Accurate determination of these delays is critical to the correct selection of appropriate pedestrian crossing treatments. A recent study aimed to develop models for estimating pedestrian delays at zebra crossings and mid-block signalised crossings, to add to the existing models in the NZTA Pedestrian Crossing Facilities Calculation Spreadsheet. This was achieved using field surveys of seven sites around Christchurch. From the zebra crossing sites it was found that pedestrian delays increased as pedestrian volumes decreased and traffic volumes increased. This could be attributed to the relative awareness and compliance of drivers in each case. Pedestrians were also more cautious when present in lower numbers or when facing higher traffic volumes. For the mid-block actuated signalised crossing sites, there were no clear trends observed in terms of volumes and delays. Therefore a SIDRA model was de...
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Context: Engineering graduates need to meet the high expectations of the profession for strong communication skills. Many institutions use stand-alone communication skills courses to meet these education needs, though students can find... more
Context: Engineering graduates need to meet the high expectations of the profession for strong communication skills. Many institutions use stand-alone communication skills courses to meet these education needs, though students can find them unconnected to their degree, leading to dissatisfaction and poor learning. Improvement of writing skills through an across-the-curriculum approach, is very difficult to co-ordinate, assess and document for employment or accreditation purposes. This paper considers a Portfolio approach to teaching communication skills at the University of Canterbury. Purpose or goal: Our new Portfolio program is motivated by employers' comments on engineering graduates' weak communication, especially writing, skills, and the need to demonstrate learning of communication skills for accreditation. Because students rate their abilities in communication skills highly in our exit surveys, the new programme intends to resolve the disconnect between students and ...
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Recently some funds donated to the Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Dept at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, were used to develop some interactive engineering displays for existing and prospective students. The first... more
Recently some funds donated to the Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Dept at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, were used to develop some interactive engineering displays for existing and prospective students. The first exhibit developed was a transportation board display, representing a landscape upon which a new road route was to be determined. The metallic display surface is sub-divided into hexagonal sections, each with a "cost" reflecting the relative difficulty of constructing in that location (e.g. due to mountains, rivers, development, etc). Magnetic straight and curved road elements (each with a value reflecting the costs to road users) can then be placed on the display to create an alignment between the chosen end points. The aim for users of the display is to determine the optimal road alignment, in terms of minimal construction costs, road user costs, or both. Since its creation, the display has been used in various locations, both on campus and a...
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Across New Zealand and the world the debate has raged about how to best provide for cyclists and encourage more people to take up cycling. A perennial issue is what kind of cycle facilities to provide, particularly the choice between on-... more
Across New Zealand and the world the debate has raged about how to best provide for cyclists and encourage more people to take up cycling. A perennial issue is what kind of cycle facilities to provide, particularly the choice between on- and off-road provision. Many people have strongly-held views at both ends of the spectrum about the merits or otherwise of on-road facilities (such as cycle lanes) and off-road facilities (such as shared pathways). Key concerns are often to do with personal safety, directness and convenience, construction/maintenance quality, and interaction with other road or path users. This paper provides some personal reflections on the issues, based on research in this area and discussions with various people. An attempt is made to try to identify issues that can be reasonably resolved and common ground that may suggest a way forward. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213900.
The use of curve advisory speed signs in New Zealand was investigated. Traffic behaviour at the location of curve advisory speed signs was observed to determine the effectiveness of and compliance with current practice. Alternative... more
The use of curve advisory speed signs in New Zealand was investigated. Traffic behaviour at the location of curve advisory speed signs was observed to determine the effectiveness of and compliance with current practice. Alternative methods for determining curve advisory speeds, using road geometry data or accelerometer-based systems, were compared with ball-bank surveys. The existing criteria and methods used for setting curve advisory speeds in New Zealand were assessed in light of the above findings and changes suggested. The field surveys found that the current ball-bank criteria underestimated observed mean speeds. A revised ball-bank relationship that did not take vehicle speed into account resulted in a much better fit. Allowing the use of alternative advisory speed methods is also recommended. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E206143.
This research report presents a review of overseas legislation, technology trends, market and safety analyses for low-powered, low-speed vehicles. These vehicles include electric bicycles, mobility scooters, self-balancing devices and... more
This research report presents a review of overseas legislation, technology trends, market and safety analyses for low-powered, low-speed vehicles. These vehicles include electric bicycles, mobility scooters, self-balancing devices and other personal mobility or wheeled recreational devices. Current New Zealand LPV legislation is based only on motor power and how certain LPVs may be used. In all other countries reviewed, top motor-assisted speed is regulated. The report assesses various regulatory and nonregulatory options for improving safety while supporting technological innovation and mode choice options in New Zealand.
Fatigue is an insidious killer resulting in many fatal and serious injuries to vehicle occupants on road networks. Fatigue has on the whole had disappointing combined stakeholder national strategic emphasis in New Zealand, yet continues... more
Fatigue is an insidious killer resulting in many fatal and serious injuries to vehicle occupants on road networks. Fatigue has on the whole had disappointing combined stakeholder national strategic emphasis in New Zealand, yet continues to emerge as one of the key factors in road crashes. Worldwide there is an increasing recognition that driver fatigue is over represented in road crashes. The understanding of fatigue (and a strategy to combat the issue) cannot be undertaken without a unified approach incorporating education, engineering and enforcement, along with a detailed understanding of the location and cause of driver fatigue related crashes. The main objective of this research is to identify how terrain and geometric alignment impact on the occurrence of fatigue related crashes in New Zealand and their relationship to location and terrain. A review of the plots for the location of the crash clusters indicates a good correlation between the location of reported fatigue related...
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Marked on-road cycle lanes are a relatively inexpensive means of providing for cycling; however, their use has been questioned in terms of both their safety and their effectiveness in attracting more people to take up cycling. While both... more
Marked on-road cycle lanes are a relatively inexpensive means of providing for cycling; however, their use has been questioned in terms of both their safety and their effectiveness in attracting more people to take up cycling. While both questions have been previously researched, the findings were rather inconclusive. A recent research project in Christchurch, New Zealand investigated the relative effects on cycle count and crash numbers of installing a series of cycle lanes. Twelve routes installed in Christchurch during the mid-2000s were analyzed, together with some control routes that already had cycle lanes. Cycle count data from a series of route locations and dates were used to establish cycling trends before and after installation. These were also compared against cycle crash numbers along these routes during the same periods. The results generally show no consistent "step" increase in cycling numbers immediately following installation of cycle lanes, with some inc...
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It is commonplace these days to make reference to "sustainability" when planning for urban land transport, particularly in light of recent Government directions. This paper examines various New Zealand metropolitan... more
It is commonplace these days to make reference to "sustainability" when planning for urban land transport, particularly in light of recent Government directions. This paper examines various New Zealand metropolitan transportation strategies and studies, and assesses their adherence to the principles of sustainable transportation. The impression given is that traditional road-building approaches still dominate local thinking, and that alternative transport options are seen as minor adjuncts. By comparison, various overseas strategies and policies are also reviewed to see how other localities have attempted to resolve their transportation issues. Their success to date and applicability to New Zealand are discussed, and a number of transportation "myths" are highlighted.
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The use of suitable crash prediction models (CPMs) is an increasing feature of rural highway design practice around the world. Given the significant undertaking required to develop these, there is a certain appeal in investigating how... more
The use of suitable crash prediction models (CPMs) is an increasing feature of rural highway design practice around the world. Given the significant undertaking required to develop these, there is a certain appeal in investigating how countries can jointly develop crash prediction models and calibrate them for each jurisdiction. Research recently explored ways to assess the safety performance of (predominantly two-lane) rural highways in New Zealand (NZ). The Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) from the US was identified as worthy of further investigation, and a number of tasks were undertaken to adapt IHSDM for use in NZ. Importing routines were developed to export NZ geometry and crash data into formats suitable for IHSDM. IHSDM's CPM was calibrated to match NZ crash patterns, both nationally and for a series of subsets defined by traffic volume, number of lanes, region and terrain. A series of validation tests were then undertaken, using actual sections of NZ high...
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With the recent shift in Government transport policy, more and more local councils are developing cycling strategies for their districts. However, a significant increase in cycling is not likely if such strategies are implemented in... more
With the recent shift in Government transport policy, more and more local councils are developing cycling strategies for their districts. However, a significant increase in cycling is not likely if such strategies are implemented in isolation from other council policies and actions. This is particularly a concern in locations where it appears that "providing for cyclists" is being interpreted as just "providing cycle facilities". A number of existing cycling strategies have certainly been fairly limited in both their scope of cycling-specific issues (such as education and promotion) and in their actual implementation. However, to really encourage more cycling, councils also need to seriously review and implement other "sustainable transport-friendly" policies for land use planning, speed limits, general road construction and maintenance, parks & reserves planning, travel demand management, traffic calming, and parking management, to name but a few. This...
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This research, which was conducted from July 2008 to January 2010, investigated what type of cycling infrastructure would encourage ‘new cyclists’ (ie people who either do not currently cycle at all, or people who do not currently cycle... more
This research, which was conducted from July 2008 to January 2010, investigated what type of cycling infrastructure would encourage ‘new cyclists’ (ie people who either do not currently cycle at all, or people who do not currently cycle for utilitarian trips) to use cycling as their mode of transport for daily activities in New Zealand. The research involved undertaking an international literature review followed by national surveys and Christchurch-based focus groups, to gain an understanding of some of the motivations and barriers associated with utilitarian cycling, and to evaluate a range of cycling facilities. The research showed that safety was the most significant issue for potential cyclists, particularly in relation to vehicle driver behaviour and traffic volume. Other significant issues included having facilities at the destination for showering and changing, enjoyment, and the perception that car drivers are not courteous. The solutions that were most likely to effect a s...
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Promoting more cycling in New Zealand is still an exercise fraught with much adversity, both from the general public and from decision- and policy-makers. It is therefore crucial that anyone advocating for a better cycling environment is... more
Promoting more cycling in New Zealand is still an exercise fraught with much adversity, both from the general public and from decision- and policy-makers. It is therefore crucial that anyone advocating for a better cycling environment is careful in how they present their case, lest they end up “scoring an own goal ” or furthering existing mis-conceptions. Some key examples of this include: • Referring to “cyclists ” rather than “people who cycle”, the former often conjuring up images of a relatively small bunch of “weird ” people who only ever cycle. • Asking to “provide cycle facilities ” rather than “provide for cycling”, when many treatments that greatly benefit cyclists often involve no dedicated cycle facilities. • Publicly highlighting safety problems for cyclists in an attempt to get improvements, when the net effect may be to increase the general perception of cycling as “dangerous”. • Pushing strongly for on-road cycle provision, thus alienating the population who would pre...
Transportation policies and legislation in New Zealand now impose an obligation on regional councils to consider how best to provide for and encourage cycling within their Regional Land Transport Strategies (RLTS). This paper, from the... more
Transportation policies and legislation in New Zealand now impose an obligation on regional councils to consider how best to provide for and encourage cycling within their Regional Land Transport Strategies (RLTS). This paper, from the 2004 conference proceedings of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Transportation Group, uses the example of Environment Canterbury to demonstrate initiatives in this area. The authors describe the model cycling strategy that was produced to provide constituent local authorities with a template for developing their own strategies. In addition, a strategy for development of a regional network of cycle routes was developed, identifying long-distance cycling issues across the region. Key principles for developing cycling within the region were also produced. The authors discuss the work involved in undertaking these initiatives and the key concepts and issues for cycling that were identified in the process. The paper includes tw...
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The inherent conflict between the residential amenity and traffic access functions of local streets causes debate on what constitutes a true "local" road. The concept of "environmental capacity" was developed to... more
The inherent conflict between the residential amenity and traffic access functions of local streets causes debate on what constitutes a true "local" road. The concept of "environmental capacity" was developed to identify a suitable maximum traffic volume on such local streets. It was first introduced by Buchanan and Appleyard in separate research in the 1960's. Both authors settled on broad-brush traffic thresholds of 2,000-3,000 vehicles per day. Since then, other research has relied heavily on the original Buchanan and Appleyard findings; this paper investigates that presumption in the present day. A residents' survey was applied to four "local" streets with varying traffic volumes in Christchurch, New Zealand. Residents living on those streets with higher volumes felt that their streets were busier, noisier and less safe. There was also an increasing trend for residents along higher volume streets to have their houses turned away from the str...
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This paper summarises the findings of a comprehensive study of the effects of road network bendiness on traffic crashes that used GIS (geographical information system) analysis (Fowler 2007). The study was based on previous research that... more
This paper summarises the findings of a comprehensive study of the effects of road network bendiness on traffic crashes that used GIS (geographical information system) analysis (Fowler 2007). The study was based on previous research that examined the effect of road network bendiness on crash occurrence at a TLA level of aggregation (Haynes et al. 2007b). It was assumed that the bendiness measures used by Haynes et al (2007b) would be more appropriate for predicting crash occurrence, and more useful from a traffic engineering viewpoint, when applied to localised regions. Thus a more appropriate method is presented and illustrated by a case study of New Zealand fatal traffic crashes. The crash data consisted of the 4019 fatal crashes that occurred on New Zealand roads in the period 1996 to 2006. Sample sets of randomly selected non-crash sites on the road network were also analysed for comparison. The bendiness measures analysed were: bend density (number of bends per km); detour rati...