Cyclists recently banned from the waterfront footpath along Harbour Drive are making a comeback with the support of resident Phillip Simpson.

The Bureta resident handed a petition of 75 signatures to Tauranga City Council's Projects and Monitoring Committee meeting on Monday in an attempt to reinstate cyclists.

Bureta resident Phillip Simpson is advocating for the return of cyclists to Harbour Drive.

Council recently erected signs ordering cyclists off the Harbour Drive footpath after pedestrians using the path complained about receiving verbal abuse from cyclists on the footpath.

Council's transportation manager Martin Parkes does not know the exact number of complaints received, but says it was enough to enact action.

'We made the decision due to the number of complaints and conflict between cyclists and pedestrians,” says Martin.

But Phillip says the signs are 'unsightly and intrusive” and believes it is unfair to ban cyclists.

In two hours Phillip collected 75 signatures from path users in favour of allowing cyclists to return.

He has been running along the foreshore pathway for years and never felt threatened until the new signs went up. He now finds there is aggression particularly from people walking dogs.

'Frequently they occupy the total path and exhibit a supreme right to be there. The same aggression does not seem to be elsewhere,” says Phillip.

Harbour Drive is the only length of pathway between Sulphur Point and Ferguson Park that is not shared with cyclists and Phillip says many cyclists use the pathway as opposed to the road.

Cyclists Ivan and Sue Scarfe told councillors the Harbour Drive road is narrow and has no shoulder or outside lane markings, which makes it dangerous to cycle on.

It is still illegal to ride on footpaths unless delivering mail or using a recreational device with a wheel diameter of less than 355mm – like a child's tricycle. There are different rules for road reserves and park reserves.

That can be changed with a council bylaw that creates shared paths that both cyclists and pedestrians can use, says Martin.

To allow this, the Harbour Drive footpath would have to be widened by a metre at a cost of $45,000 to make it safe for both user groups.

The widening would not happen in this financial year, but could be part of council's minor safety works programme for 2014/15.

Councillors are in favour of the shared cycle pedestrian use. David Stewart says the $45,000 cost is money well spent.

Phillip says the Harbour Drive footpath is 2metres wide, as is the Nautilus Bridge, and the shared pathway between Otumoetai and Beach Roads varies in width from 1.7-2metres wide. He said the shared cycle pedestrian corridor on the causeway bridge is also 2metres.

Council received the petition and will examine the options and report back.