Cyclists protested hazardous conditions on the road in Matakana. Photo: Supplied / Brett Phibbs
Someone could die if cyclists travelling between Puhoi and Mangawhai are not given a safer route, an advocate is warning.
More than 50 cyclists protested hazardous conditions in the Rodney district last month.
The protest - organised by the Matakana Coast Trail Trust - aimed to raise awareness about its fundraising efforts to build a 120-km trail to separate cyclists from motorists on the road.
The trust aimed to have completed 2.2km of the trail from Point Wells to Matakana Country Park by the end of March, largely funded by private donations.
Fundraising manager Meg Eriksen said Rodney was getting increasingly busy, particularly on Saturdays when the Matakana market was on.
"The roads are really narrow and there's no room for cyclists when traffic is backed up which can obviously cause frustration for motorists.
"It's an issue that needs to be addressed or there's going to be life lost and that's just not acceptable."
She said there had recently been some big scares and falls and a trail was urgently needed to keep people, including children, safe.
"I certainly wouldn't be sending my children cycling to school on that road. It would be very irresponsible.
"But children should be able to cycle and walk to school."
(L-R) Meg Eriksen, The Coastal Trail fundraising manager, with Allison Roe, Christian Newman and actor Martin Henderson. Photo: Brett Phibbs
She said Auckland Council and the Rodney Local Board supported what they were doing, but limited funding was available.
"To achieve our goal - which is 120km from Puhoi to Mangawhai - we'll need a lot more than fundraising and sausage sizzles. We need local and central government to get behind it."
The trust projected stage one of the project - a 24km path linking Warkworth, Matakana, and Snells Beach - would cost about $12m.
But Eriksen said they had a strong business case, with roughly 390,000 people estimated to use the trail each year.
"We've done a lot of research and [the trail] would increase consumer spending on tourism infrastructure, hospitality, and accommodation by roughly $84m. That's a significant contribution."
She said building the trail would also create 330 jobs during the construction phase, and 250 long term jobs after its completion.
Rodney Local Board chair Brent Bailey said he strongly supported a coastal trail, but the board did not have the money to fund the project.
"Cyclists and all road users ought to be able to use our road network with the expectation of being safe."
He suggested central government tourism funding as an option.
"It would create jobs during construction, income for New Zealand by supporting tourism, and safe recreation for residents.
"I'm thrilled they've been able to build the small part they have. I encourage them to continue to raise money from every source possible."
Rodney Ward Councillor Greg Sayers also supported the idea.
"Many of the roads in the Rodney area are unsealed and don't have footpaths so the trail not only offers a safe environment for cyclists but also for walkers, mountain biking, and horse riders as well.
But he said the council was unlikely to offer financial support due to other priorities.
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