A 71-year-old Gisborne cyclist suffered multiple fractures after his bike wheel became lodged in a disused railway line intersecting a popular cycleway, prompting Eastland Port to begin filling the hazardous gap.
Patrick Tinnelly spent two weeks in hospital recovering from a broken right shoulder, a fractured pelvis, and severe bruising to his right side following the incident on December 30, near the Shark Bar conclude of the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club. He described the area as “a bit narrow” and admitted he hadn’t been fully focused when the accident occurred.
The Wainui to Midway Beach shared path, maintained by the district council, crosses the disused railway line, which is owned by Eastland Port. Residents had been unsure who to contact regarding the hazard, according to Eastland Port. The council confirmed it had received two reports of a hazard on the tracks, one in 2023 and another in 2026.
Tinnelly told Local Democracy Reporting that he has since learned of other cyclists experiencing similar accidents at the same location. His wife, Chris, shared a social media post that garnered 17 comments from individuals who had either witnessed, heard about, or been involved in incidents involving the railway line. One commenter reported a woman suffering a punctured lung after falling when her bike handlebars caught in the tracks.
Recreational cyclist Grant Bramwell contacted both the council and Eastland Port after hearing about Tinnelly’s injuries. He reported that a friend had a near miss at the same spot, and two other acquaintances had sustained significant injuries after their wheels became trapped in the tracks. Bramwell stated he was unsure which entity was responsible for addressing the issue.
Within 24 hours of being contacted by Bramwell, Eastland Port initiated work to fill the gaps between the railway tracks and the adjacent asphalt. An Eastland Port spokeswoman stated the port acted quickly to address the safety concern, clarifying that while the rail tracks are owned by the port, the cycleway’s upkeep is the council’s responsibility. The port plans to treat the tracks with an adhesive and sand coating to improve traction, though work has been delayed by recent weather conditions.
District councillor Colin Alder, contacted by Tinnelly, had written to the council, asserting that as the cycleway is listed as a council path, ensuring its safety is the council’s responsibility. Tinnelly expressed dissatisfaction with the council’s initial response, stating he was directed to contact KiwiRail regarding the railway bridge, despite his accident occurring away from the bridge structure. He felt the council did not take ownership of the cycleway’s safety.
A KiwiRail spokesperson stated the section of railway does not sit on KiwiRail land and is not owned by them.
