Amendment to the Traffic Bylaw

The Council must use the special consultative procedure when making or amending a bylaw. Section 83(1)(a) of LGA 2002 requires the Council to prepare a Statement of Proposal. Section 86(2) requires the Statement of Proposal to include: a draft of the bylaw as proposed to be made or amended and the reasons for the proposal; and a report on the relevant determinations by the Council under section 155 of the LGA 2002.

You can submit your opinions online via an electronic submission form here. You may post or fax submissions to the Council. You also need to indicate whether you wish to appear in person before the Council to speak in support of your submission.

How to get your submission to us:

Online: Fill out the form here

Email to: submissions@rotorualc.nz(External link)

Fax: 07 346 3143

Post to: Rotorua Lakes Council, Private Bag 3029, Rotorua Mail Centre, Rotorua 3046

The submission period runs from 14 December to 15 February 2018.

Submissions on the proposed amendment are available to the public and the media. This includes your personal information. All submissions will be acknowledged. Submitters who wish to speak to their submission will be advised of a day and time for their verbal hearing when their submission is acknowledged.

For further information on the bylaw, please phone the Council on 07 348 4199 or email us at info@rotorualc.nz

The Urban Cycleways Programme began in 2014 with the aim of making significant improvements to cycling infrastructure in New Zealand’s main urban areas. In Rotorua, a city-wide network of cycleways is being established which will connect suburbs and main arterial routes to the CBD, some major tourist attractions and to the Whakarewarewa Forest / Redwoods area. Many of the cycleways allow for shared use by cyclists and pedestrians.

To better regulate the cycleways for shared use by cyclists and pedestrians, officers propose to establish a power similar to that adopted by other Councils[1] to establish and regulate the use of shared paths under a bylaw.

Rather than amending the General Bylaw 2011 to include provisions concerning shared paths, officers recommend that the Rotorua District Traffic Bylaw 2015 be amended to include these provisions, as follows:

Amend the definitions clause of the Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 2015 by inserting the following definition of “shared path”:

Shared path means a cycle path, a cycle track, a footpath, or some other kind of path that may be used by some or all of the following persons at the same time – (a) cyclists; (b) pedestrians; (c) riders of mobility devices; and (d) riders of wheeled recreational devices.

Amend the Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 2015 by inserting the following provisions as new clause 30 and renumbering the remaining clauses of the bylaw:

30 Shared paths

30.1 Council may by resolution –

30.1.1 Determine the length, route and/or location of a shared path; and

30.1.2 Determine priority for users on a shared path.

30.2 No person may use a shared path in a manner that contravenes a restriction made by the Council under this clause.

Shared zones aim to remove the segregation of road users so that pedestrians also share the roadway and, as such, no formal footpaths are required. The concept relies on the removal of typical street elements including line-markings, signage and kerbs, with the addition of extra street furniture such as seats, cycle parking and landscaping. This results in an intentional level of ambiguity so that drivers proceed with caution and at slow speeds. People cycling and driving in shared zones are expected to travel in a way that is consistent with a walking pace, and are legally required to give way to pedestrians.

The Council is considering establishing ‘shared zones’ in areas of the CBD.

To better provide for shared zones, officers propose to establish a power similar to that adopted by other Councils[1] to establish and regulate the use of shared zones under a bylaw.

Rather than amending the General Bylaw 2011 to include provisions concerning shared zones, officers recommend that the Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 2015 be amended to include provisions concerning shared paths, as follows:

Amend the definitions clause of Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 2015 by inserting the following definition of “shared zone”:

Shared zone means a length of roadway intended to be used by pedestrians and vehicles (including cyclists).

Amend the Rotorua District Council Traffic Bylaw 2015 by inserting the following provisions as new clause 31 and renumbering the remaining clauses of the bylaw:

31 Shared zones

31.1 Council may by resolution specify any road or part of a road to be a shared zone.

31.2 Any resolution made under this clause may specify:

31.2.1 Whether the shared zone may be used by specified classes of vehicles;

31.2.2 The days and hours of operation of the shared zone (if they differ from 24 hours per day, 7 days per week); and

31.2.3 Any other restrictions on how the shared zone is to be used by the public, including how traffic and pedestrians will interact.

31.3 Except where the Council has by resolution specified otherwise, no person may park or stand a vehicle in a road or part of a road specified as a shared zone.

31.4 No person may use a shared zone in a manner that contravenes a restriction made by the Council under this clause.