5 April 2000

Matters arising at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council’s City Services Committee yesterday.

Cr. Ron Wright wants them installed as a safety measure to indicate when doors are opened.

His suggestion followed a plea for greater attention to the hazard to cyclists from opening vehicle doors from Chrissie Williams, a long-time cyclist and chairwoman of the Burwood-Pegasus Community Board. She addressed a meeting of the Christchurch City Council’s City Services Committee yesterday.

Ms Williams was seriously hurt when she was in collision with an opening car door. She said she was still in pain from her injuries.

Cr. Wright said vehicle manufacturers could install blue lights in the doors of vehicles, on the dashboards, and at the rear outside. The lights would indicate that a door was open.

"I challenge motor companies to take up the suggestion," he said.

"It would be a warning system to cyclists and drivers that a door is opening."

Cr. Carole Evans said New Zealand now had a generation of drivers who don’t automatically think about cyclists. An education programme was necessary to make drivers aware of the greater numbers of cyclists on the roads.

The committee asked the City Streets Unit manager, Stephen Matheson, to prepare a report on matters raised by Ms Williams.

Further information: Chrissie Williams: 025 265 2392 or 388 0798.

2. Water Feature Gets Thumbs Up

A water feature in the centre of a roundabout at a new Styx sub-division was approved by the committee.

R D Hughes Ltd said the 1100-section sub-division between Redwood and Belfast was being developed on an old apple orchard.

Trees for the sub-division were being grown at a nursery on site and the footpaths would be made with coloured concrete.

Local landscape architect John Marsh has designed the overall landscape as well as a water feature for the roundabout, with water jets and a weir. It will also have lighting and Lombardy poplars to reflect the history of the area.

The committee’s recommendation to the council will ask that care be taken with the feature to reduce the need for maintenance. The committee also congratulated the developers for the roundabout feature.