Options considered

A preliminary design was developed in 2022 following a broad consideration of options and a multi-criteria assessment to narrow down the options to what was feasible. The analysis considered ways to improve and make the trial layout more permanent and looked at the feasibility of a wide range of other possible street changes.

The design was developed following community feedback on the trial bike lane, and with input from a technical working group that included representatives from the Council’s Accessibility Advisory Group, Living Streets Aotearoa, Cycle Wellington, Greater Wellington, Metlink, and Waka Kotahi.

As planning continued, indicative costs for the preliminary concept design came in well above the targeted budget, and a safety audit showed some possible issues with an option to develop a roundabout at the intersection of Brooklyn and Ohiro roads.

As a result, some alternative lower-cost options based on the preliminary design work have been developed and assessed this year.

The option that has been agreed for this consultation – a raised uphill bike lane – was recommended and selected because it provides a good range of walking, biking, public transport and safety benefits.

The options considered in 2023 ranged from using concrete separators on the road to make the trial lane more permanent with only very minor walking and bus improvements, to more comprehensive changes. These included a raised bike lane at footpath level and a continuous footpath on the eastern side of Brooklyn Road.

Options considered but not progressed

Some of the other street changes that were considered during the assessment but not progressed included:

Brooklyn Road
  • Enhanced fully separated two-way (bi-directional) bike lane on either the uphill or the downhill side of Brooklyn Road
  • Enhanced fully separated one-way lanes on both the uphill and downhill sides of Brooklyn Road
  • Enhanced fully separated uphill bike lane with continuous footpaths on both sides of Brooklyn Road
 Brooklyn Road/Ohiro Road intersection
  • Traffic signals at the intersection
  • Roundabout
 Ohiro Road between Brooklyn Road and the shops
  • Separated bike lane on one side or the other with sharrow road markings on the other side
  • Separated citybound bike lane with footpaths on both sides of the road

Ohiro Road/Tanera Crescent/Bretby Crescent intersection
  • Closure of Tanera Crescent between Helen Street and Ohiro Road
  • Tanera Crescent made one-way

Cleveland Street (Ohiro Road to Washington Avenue)
  • Bike lanes on both sides
  • Bike lane on the uphill or downhill side with sharrow road markings on the other side.