Gisborne cycleway rail track gap to be filled after cyclist’s accident

A disused railway line intersecting a popular Gisborne cycleway is being filled with material after a cyclist suffered multiple fractures in a fall when his bike wheel became caught in the tracks.

Cycleway Hazard Addressed After Injuries

Patrick Tinnelly, 71, spent two weeks in hospital recovering from a broken right shoulder, a fractured pelvis, and severe bruising to his right side sustained in the December 30 accident. The incident occurred on the railway track parallel to the Shark Bar end of the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club.

Eastland Port is undertaking the repairs after residents were unsure which entity was responsible for the hazard, as the cycleway is listed by the council but located on port land.

Tinnelly, an experienced cyclist, stated he was riding with a group at the time of the incident and acknowledged he may not have been fully focused. “If I’d been concentrating a bit better, I wouldn’t have strayed near the railway track, but it is a bit narrow there,” he said.

Since the crash, Tinnelly has learned of other cyclists experiencing similar accidents at the same location, including one woman whose bike handlebars punctured her lung in a fall. He described these as “quite serious accidents and probably in line with what happened to me.”

The cycleway is part of the Wainui to Midway Beach shared path and is listed on the district council’s website as a council-maintained walkway, mountain biking, and fitness trail.

The council initially indicated the railway was the responsibility of KiwiRail, while the port was responsible for the land. However, a KiwiRail spokesperson stated the section of railway does not sit on, nor is owned by, KiwiRail.

Recreational cyclist Grant Bramwell, after hearing of Tinnelly’s accident, contacted both the council and Eastland Port, expressing confusion about which party to contact. He also knew of others who had near misses or sustained significant injuries at the location.

Eastland Port responded within 24 hours of being contacted by Bramwell. “I’m glad there’s been some action on it because I think it’s going to save a lot of people a lot of grief,” Bramwell said.

An Eastland Port spokeswoman stated the port acted quickly to address the safety concern. The gap between the tracks and the existing asphalt is being filled, and the tracks will be treated with an adhesive and sand coating to reduce slipperiness. Work was temporarily impacted by weather conditions but is expected to resume shortly.

District councillor Colin Alder, contacted by Tinnelly, had written to the council, asserting that as a listed council cycle path, its safety was the council’s responsibility. Both Bramwell and Tinnelly reported receiving similar responses from the council.

Tinnelly expressed disappointment with the council’s initial response during his hospital stay, stating he was directed to contact KiwiRail despite not falling off his bike on a bridge. “I think they should have probably said, ‘yeah, it is our cycleway.’ I don’t think they took ownership of the cycleway at all,” he said.