Karori Connections (Botanic Gardens) Parking Options Safety Review

ViaStrada conducted an independent safety assessment of several proposed options for adding car parking back in along a 400-metre uphill section of the Karori Connections Route near Wellington’s Botanic Garden. The review focused on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and people accessing parked vehicles.
The study ranked several design options, concluding that retaining the existing physically separated cycleway is the safest solution. It minimises conflict between road users and protects cyclists where traffic speed differences are greatest.
Narrowing the cycleway to allow for more parking was identified as the next best alternative, though it introduces increased risks of collisions, particularly from car doors opening into the path of cyclists.
All other proposed options, especially those forcing cyclists to mix with general traffic, were found to significantly reduce safety for all road users.