New Plymouth District Councillors Max Brough and Murray Chong have presented a community survey with 7,000+ responses to Regional Development Minister Shane Jones.
The survey, organised by local business owner Shane Devlin, asked respondents whether they are for or against the changes made along SH45 to implement a separated cycleway. According to Devlin, only 2% of respondents backed the concrete separators; the rest want them gone.
The “Tim Tams” sit along Devon St West and South Rd, named for the biscuit-like blocks that divide car lanes from the bike lanes. The work is part of the Mā Ake Your Way upgrade, funded by $3.8m from Waka Kotahi and delivered with NPDC.
Devlin and other retailers say the changes have cut parking, complicated deliveries and put customers off. Some residents report near misses, tyre damage and trouble pulling over for emergency vehicles.
Brough, now running for mayor, calls the separators unsafe and says better, less intrusive options exist. He’s pledged to remove the Tim Tams if elected.
Supporters of the project argue the separated lanes make the route safer and more predictable, especially for school-age riders. Painted lanes were often ignored; physical separation forces drivers to hold their line.
Council is undertaking a post-construction safety audit, which won’t be released publicly until after the election.
Backers of a rethink say safety and access don’t have to be at odds, and that streets also need to work for customers, tradies and freight. That balance — freedom to move, but without unnecessary risk — is where the debate now sits.
