Dear Christchurch City Council,

In the past 10 years, there have been 2 fatalities of cyclists at level crossings. Of the two, one happened in Christchurch on February 11, 2016 with the level crossing located at Fendalton Road when Richard Craig Chandler rode from a footpath onto the tracks. This is adjacent to the Northern Line cycleway.

As far as I can tell, the design at the level crossings remains the same today in 2024 as it was back in 2016 - some 8 years later. There are no barrier, gates or chicanes for people walking or cycling at the crossing. The level crossing design in Christchurch is approximately the same as the one in Tauranga where the second cyclist died.

On or around January 8, 2018, Coroner Marcus Elliot wrote to CCC, NZTA and KiwiRail about a pedestrian access gates recommendation, but received no response.

1) Why did Council not respond to or engage with the Coroner?

Council recently approved and began construction of three level crossings north of this area, purportedly because of the risks to cyclists, but did not elect to upgrade the one where a cyclist literally died.

2) How did Council make the decision to upgrade these three other level crossings vs. the one where someone literally died?

3) Is either KiwiRail or Council planning to upgrade, close or otherwise change this level crossing? Given that 8 years have now elapsed so funding should have surely been made available to do so by now.

Yours faithfully,

Cody C