A safe crossing of Poplar Avenue needs to be established at the end of Te Ara o Whareroa- the shared pathway through Queen Elizabeth Park. A raised crossing, as shown in the photo example from Lower Hutt, would require cars to give way to cyclists and pedestrians.

Te Ara o Whareroa shared walking and cycling track connects the villages of Raumati and Paekākāriki. It is a high use track. Students attending local primary and secondary schools, dog walkers, whānau and cycle commuters use it. But, at the Raumati South end of the track, there is no designated crossing of Poplar Avenue. The absence of a crossing here is made even more dangerous because it is located at a complex intersection where Poplar Avenue meets the south end of Mataī Road. Walkers and cyclists have long been concerned that it is dangerous crossing this road. Despite many attempts to get the Kāpiti Coast District Council to make this a safe, child-friendly crossing, cars continue to have priority.

Kāpiti Coast District Council has declared a climate emergency and transport emissions need to decline.  In order to address climate change and for safety reasons, we need to prioritise the welfare of walkers and cyclists on Poplar Avenue and support safe cycling across the entire Kāpiti Coast.

This petition is endorsed by Low Carbon Kāpiti, Kāpiti Climate Change Action Group and Kāpiti Cycling Action