A temporary cycleway will introduced to Invercargill city centre for the next month.

The route will run along Deveron Street from this Sunday, May 16th, until Sunday, June 13th, enabling residents to try a new way of travelling through the city.

Invercargill City Council roading manager Russell Pearson says: "We will be using temporary materials like wooden planter boxes, bright and fun road art, and more traditional road markings to create lanes.

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"Bike racks will also be temporarily installed so people can safely park their bikes while they enjoy their shopping or head to a local café.

"This approach allows the community to have a go on the new route and provide feedback in real time on what is working and what might need adjusting.

"This is a different approach to traditional street change consultation but gives people a better feel for how it could work if it was to become a permanent cycle route."

The findings from the trial will help inform future designs considered by the council.

The project is part of the community-partnered Te Waka o Waihopai initiative, with 90% funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency's Innovating Streets For People programme.

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Businesses along Deveron Street have also played a part in the community co-design approach, with business owners' feedback used to understand how the space can work better for everyone.

A survey will be opened to coincide with the trial to gather feedback on the temporary route.

"We know that everyone wants to live in a vibrant, safe city that offers people different ways to get around, access our greenspaces and the city centre," Pearson says.

"This cycle route trial offers people an alternative way to do this, provide feedback, and help inform future decision-making."

Road closures will be in place during installation times.

Te Waka o Waihopai has hosted community co-design workshops. Photo: Te Waka o Waihopai

Te Waka o Waihopai is working alongside the community to reimagine public spaces and create better connections in the city.

Deveron Street Activated Cycle Route is the first of three projects it's working on, funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Innovating Streets Fund.

These include two events to bring life, activity, and fun to the streets to bring people into the CBD and to help reimagine what the spaces could look like and community-led experiments and conversations will tease out what shelter is needed in the city centre.

You can find out more about the projects at www.tewakaowaihopai.co.nz

Photo: Te Waka o Waihopai