Part of Christchurch's proposed $156 million cycle network has been criticised for being unnecessarily costly and for endangering a bird sanctuary.
Christchurch City Council is due to vote today on starting work on four of the routes of the planned 13-route cycleway.
Cycle lanes were among recommendations to boost cycling and the safety of cyclists. Photo: AFP
The cost of the project has more than doubled because of the wish to build dedicated cycleways not shared by other traffic.
Hagley Ferrymead Community Board deputy chair Isla McLeod, told councillors this morning the Rapanui-Shag Rock route connecting Sumner and the city was still going through a bird sanctuary even though the board raised concerns about it last year.
She said the proposed route was unnecessarily costly because it followed a circuitous path through the suburb of Linwood instead of the more direct route, recommended by the board, along the middle of Linwood Avenue.