City cycleway to stay

Christchurch’s Park Tce cycleway will remain in place following a tense debate and accusations of contempt for cyclists and all residents.

Cyclists, wearing hi-vis clothing and helmets, filled Christchurch City Council’s public gallery yesterday, holding signs pleading with the council to keep the cycleway in place.

Their views were heard by the majority of the council, which voted 10-6 against councillor James Gough’s bid to immediately rip up the cycleway. Mayor Phil Mauger was among those supporting Gough.

Last month, council staff took out a vehicle lane on Park Tce and replaced it with a cycle lane.

The work was done under temporary traffic management rules, and sparked outrage among some councillors and Mauger, who accused council staff of ‘‘running amok’’.

Gough said he believed the cycleway actually compromised safety.

Mauger once against insisted he was not against cycleways, but was against how the council was building them.

Earlier in the meeting, cycling advocates told the council the city’s reputation was at stake if the cycleway was removed.