Noob help with traffic and routes from City to Papakura

[notonmywatch]

Gidday folks,

I've a new member to the site. Currently on my learners and have been doing a fairly moderate commute from Home (Papakura) to Work (City).

Just wondering if anyone who does a similar trek has any experience on best routes in rush hour traffic. I have no problem filtering through traffic but my bike (Scooter) is fairly wide and I don't usually go faster than 60kph.

At times instead of crawling down the Southern Motorway home on a bad traffic day I take the Gillies Ave offramp and then make my way over to Highway 20. I don't really find this much quicker, it's just much calmer with less traffic and less stress.

Does anyone have any similar experiences/insights.

Thanks again.

[Akzle]

hahahaha.

have a fucking latte, aucklander.

[FJRider]

Avoid Auckland ... It's always worked for ME ...

[caspernz]

Helicopter or train, your budget will decide which :laugh:

Oh well, at least riding a bike (of sorts) is better than yet another car with only one occupant in it :niceone:

If your hours are typical office type hours, I'd consider the train. But hey, I work shifts so my travel routine is far less affected by rush hour kind of routines...

[caseye]

For now, continue to do as you have, it works and there really isn't another alternative, unless the train appeals.
When you get fed up with slow motorways do try carefully splitting,keeping your eyes, ears and all other senses wide open.
Split safely and without blasting up the lanes and you will be fine. Biggest problem I have found splitting on the mw's is other bike riders who believe they are evil knivel and do far too great a speed but hey what would I know. ride your own ride.

[notonmywatch]

For now, continue to do as you have, it works and there really isn't another alternative, unless the train appeals.
When you get fed up with slow motorways do try carefully splitting,keeping your eyes, ears and all other senses wide open.
Split safely and without blasting up the lanes and you will be fine. Biggest problem I have found splitting on the mw's is other bike riders who believe they are evil knivel and do far too great a speed but hey what would I know. ride your own ride.

Thanks for the info, yeah I take it pretty slow splitting lanes. I see much more aggressive/fast drivers who I give way to, but it still worries me the possibility of a car pulling out swapping lanes.

I suppose 1 useful post out of 4 isn't too bad.

[notonmywatch]

If your hours are typical office type hours, I'd consider the train. But hey, I work shifts so my travel routine is far less affected by rush hour kind of routines...

Yeah I was taking the train for a while, but a total commute of 1.5 hours (taking into account getting to the station from home, and to work from station) made it a really long day.

[kiwi-on-wheels]

I'm commuting howick to the waitaks every day atm with work gear on the bike. If traffics bad i'll detour through mission bay, st heliers glen innes ways. Through to papakura from gi is simple, shoot down murphys bush rd, but you say scooter, so that area could be a bit dodgy due to much faster moving traffic.

Welcome along, dont mind akzle :-P

[notonmywatch]

I'm commuting howick to the waitaks every day atm with work gear on the bike. If traffics bad i'll detour through mission bay, st heliers glen innes ways. Through to papakura from gi is simple, shoot down murphys bush rd, but you say scooter, so that area could be a bit dodgy due to much faster moving traffic.

Welcome along, dont mind akzle :-P

Hey thanks for the info, tried to find the route on google maps without much luck. So you reckon Mill Road, Murphy's Rd, Chapel Road then over to Ti Rakau then to GI? It's a 300cc scooter so it can keep up with and stay ahead of traffic ok.

[kiwi-on-wheels]

Yeah something like that. Faster to take motorway, even with traffic lol

[notonmywatch]

Yeah something like that. Faster to take motorway, even with traffic lol

Yeah I reckon. That would be a very LONG detour for me to go that route.

[swbarnett]

At times instead of crawling down the Southern Motorway home on a bad traffic day I take the Gillies Ave offramp and then make my way over to Highway 20. I don't really find this much quicker, it's just much calmer with less traffic and less stress.
What times are you travelling?

If I leave work before 6pm (and sometimes after) I'll take Dominion Road to SH20. There's a lot less traffic on Dominion than Gillies Ave. etc. and you've got bus lanes as well (even after hours they're mostly empty).

I usually leave home (Tuakau) after 9am and find the reverse of the above is often useful.

[MisterD]

I take the Gillies Ave offramp and then make my way over to Highway 20.

I find Gillies to be a nightmare of traffic lights and dithering drivers changing lanes, so I usually stay on the MWay until Market Road (the inside lane flows pretty well around to there over the viaduct) and then it's a pretty empty cut across to Manukau Rd.

In the long run, you're probably best off getting your lane-splitting skills and confidence up.

[Scubbo]

the motorway is fastest, split through the bumper to bumper traffic --- you'll get used to it, 60KPH is more than enough at rush hour :O

[f2dz]

I commute from Alfriston (near Manukau) every day to Auckland. I jump on at Manukau then split most of the time then entire way.

Takes me around 40 minutes on average. Beats a 1h 30m train any day.

I'm assuming your scooter can go 100kph? If so, then just take the motorway. In the three years I've been riding this same route I've never had anything that close at all. You just have to be smart and ultra aware of how drivers can potentially react. A buddy of mine had the same experience commuting from Papakura to Mt Wellington but was eventually taken on by someone doing a u-turn on the onramp, not on the motorway itself.

Keep your speed between 30-40kph when splitting through traffic and then merge in with everyone else once things speed up past this. If your scooter is wide and you feel like you make be holding others up just make sure to keep an eye on your mirrors and let other faster riders through.

I've seen people on massive cruisers split past me and disappear out of sight so I don't see why you'd have a problem.

[notonmywatch]

What times are you travelling?

If I leave work before 6pm (and sometimes after) I'll take Dominion Road to SH20. There's a lot less traffic on Dominion than Gillies Ave. etc. and you've got bus lanes as well (even after hours they're mostly empty).

I usually leave home (Tuakau) after 9am and find the reverse of the above is often useful.

Thanks I usually head out between 7:30-8am and leave work around 5:30pm.

I do enjoy the SH20 as an alternative as is pretty stress free after a long day at work and I can just listen to radio in my helmet. Will try out Dominion Road too thanks.

[notonmywatch]

I find Gillies to be a nightmare of traffic lights and dithering drivers changing lanes, so I usually stay on the MWay until Market Road (the inside lane flows pretty well around to there over the viaduct) and then it's a pretty empty cut across to Manukau Rd.

In the long run, you're probably best off getting your lane-splitting skills and confidence up.

Thanks for that will try that too. Lane-splitting skills could def do with improve same with confidence.

[notonmywatch]

I commute from Alfriston (near Manukau) every day to Auckland. I jump on at Manukau then split most of the time then entire way.

Takes me around 40 minutes on average. Beats a 1h 30m train any day.

I'm assuming your scooter can go 100kph? If so, then just take the motorway. In the three years I've been riding this same route I've never had anything that close at all. You just have to be smart and ultra aware of how drivers can potentially react. A buddy of mine had the same experience commuting from Papakura to Mt Wellington but was eventually taken on by someone doing a u-turn on the onramp, not on the motorway itself.

Keep your speed between 30-40kph when splitting through traffic and then merge in with everyone else once things speed up past this. If your scooter is wide and you feel like you make be holding others up just make sure to keep an eye on your mirrors and let other faster riders through.

I've seen people on massive cruisers split past me and disappear out of sight so I don't see why you'd have a problem.


Yeah scooter does 100 fine. I've started to read gaps in traffic as the traffic opens up and closes. There is always a driver who want to snatch an opportunity to switch lanes to catch the best flow.

My scooter is a little wider than your average sports bike but I guess its just a matter of getting used to my distances. I remember after after I learnt to drive a Truck and got my HT license, after going back to a car I was really shocked at how much space there is between you and the car next to you.

I usually split traffic at 60km max, but let through a lot of sports bikers doing a lot faster. Cheers

[Akzle]

I usually split traffic at 60km max, but let through a lot of sports bikers doing a lot faster. Cheers

follow them. not so much on their ass as you're annoying them or couldn't stop,
but not so far that drivers will have forgotten a motorcycle going past their window.

[swbarnett]

My scooter is a little wider than your average sports bike but I guess its just a matter of getting used to my distances.
Yeah, I meant to mention that I have panniers on my bike so not the narrowest in the rear. It is still narrower than my handlebars though. Any gap that I can get through with the handlebars the panniers will fit. Especially as the gap for the handlebars usually includes car mirrors and the panniers are below the mirrors.

[thehovel]

Gidday folks,

I've a new member to the site. Currently on my learners and have been doing a fairly moderate commute from Home (Papakura) to Work (City).

Just wondering if anyone who does a similar trek has any experience on best routes in rush hour traffic. I have no problem filtering through traffic but my bike (Scooter) is fairly wide and I don't usually go faster than 60kph.

At times instead of crawling down the Southern Motorway home on a bad traffic day I take the Gillies Ave offramp and then make my way over to Highway 20. I don't really find this much quicker, it's just much calmer with less traffic and less stress.

Does anyone have any similar experiences/insights.

Thanks again.

I commuted from Beachhaven and MtWellington for 18 or19yrs. Glide time is your best friend. I had to be on the m/way by 6;15am and 3;35pm all overtime was done before normal time. 3;00am starts are a bit daunting but you get off before the m/way turns to shit in the afternoon. The bike I most liked was a BMW k75, skinny bars and light.

[haydes55]

This thread is just highlighting how good Hamilton is...... That sounds so sad.

[swbarnett]

This thread is just highlighting how good Hamilton is...... That sounds so sad.
Just wait. With so many Aucklanders moving down there it's only a matter of time. I wonder if Hamilton will ever be considered a suburb?

[mhm]

i do from north waikato to otahuhu all year round & i'm probably one of the faster sports bikes people mention. def stay with the bike as it is the quickest. your confidence will grow as will your ability to read traffic and judge the gaps

[Akzle]

This thread is just highlighting how good Hamilton is...... That sounds so sad.
no. it really isn't.

Just wait. With so many Aucklanders moving down there it's only a matter of time. I wonder if Hamilton will ever be considered a suburb?
i'd love to say it is, but hamilton is it's own special shit hole.
(bombay's is still the cutoff)

[kiwi-on-wheels]

i'd love to say it is, but hamilton is it's own special shit hole.
(bombay's is still the cutoff)

This... oh sweet jebus this... :-P

[notonmywatch]

This thread is just highlighting how good Hamilton is...... That sounds so sad.

I completely lost it reading this LOL.

[notonmywatch]

follow them. not so much on their ass as you're annoying them or couldn't stop,
but not so far that drivers will have forgotten a motorcycle going past their window.

It seems a little fast for my liking to be honest. Traffic crawling at 20km, bikes sometimes filtering as fast at 80km. I'm not that brave.

[Akzle]

It seems a little fast for my liking to be honest. Traffic crawling at 20km, bikes sometimes filtering as fast at 80km. I'm not that brave.

sounds like you need to blow the sand out of your vagina, put your big girl undies on and get some l33t 5ki117 yo.

[f2dz]

This thread is just highlighting how good Hamilton is...... That sounds so sad.

A little traffic before and after work is heaven compared to Hamilton.


It seems a little fast for my liking to be honest. Traffic crawling at 20km, bikes sometimes filtering as fast at 80km. I'm not that brave.

80km through 20km traffic is stupid - just asking to be cleaned up. As a general rule I try to stick between 40-50kph. Going faster just lessens the time you have to react to the movement of cars.

[Motorcycle Recovery]

Depending on the time you are travelling to and from the city, you could try the route that I use all the time with my rig (Mazda Bounty and Trailer).

Heading into the city I take SH1 form Hill Road, Manurewa
Turn off and take SH20 out towards the airport
Follow all the way to the end and turn Right at Maioro Street
Turn Right onto Stoddard Road
Left into Sandringham Road and follow all the way up to New North Road. (you can use the bus lanes legally all the way)
Go straight onto Bond Street and depending on where you work you can either turn Right at Great North Road or go straight onto Grosvenor Street (Past the Red Baron Service Dept) and down to Williamson Ave then turn right.

In the afternoon, this route usually only gets congested at the Bond Street/New North Road Intersection. When you get to Manukau you can either lane split and rejoin SH1 getting off at Hill Road or get off at Lambie Drive and head up Redoubt Road.


It can be hit and miss sometimes but for the majority of the time it's pretty free flowing. I've done the trip in about 35-40 mins from Manurewa to the city at peak hour hauling bikes into Red Baron so on a bike it shouldn't take too long at all (especially being able to use the bus lanes where the traffic does queue up.

Hope this helps.

Kevin L.

[Delerium]

hahahaha.

have a fucking latte, aucklander.

inbred shit stirring hick.

[f2dz]

Kevin's route above seems like a good one. I tried riding to town via SH20 once but it ended up being slower for me - although I didn't take this route.

Only thing I'd say is to be careful of bus lanes. By all means ride in em but just be wary that most people think it's a free lane most of the time. If they don't see a dirty great bus then they'll assume it's empty, and run right into you.

[Akzle]

inbred shit stirring hick.

two outta three aint bad.

Bit lacking in any real thought though. Try harder.

[Moi]

You could add a variable to Kevin's suggested route... leave H'way 20 at Dominion Rd and follow it all the way into the city. Just watch the exit: there are two right turn lanes at the lights at the end of the off-ramp, you need to be in the right hand one and line up for the right hand lane after the lights for the on-ramp as the left lane turns left into Denbigh Ave - watch the idiots who use that lane and then try to push over cause they're so important. Then it's bus lane from there to View Road - well almost continuous bus lane. At View Rd you can access Mt Eden, Newmarket, Eden Tce, Newton, Ponsonby, the CBD...

And as others have said - don't take bus lanes for granted - watch traffic going the same way as you and for traffic turning out into the bus lane and across it...

Enjoy your commute - it can be a great part of the day when on a bike...

[Motorcycle Recovery]

Kevin's route above seems like a good one. I tried riding to town via SH20 once but it ended up being slower for me - although I didn't take this route.

Only thing I'd say is to be careful of bus lanes. By all means ride in em but just be wary that most people think it's a free lane most of the time. If they don't see a dirty great bus then they'll assume it's empty, and run right into you.


You could add a variable to Kevin's suggested route... leave H'way 20 at Dominion Rd and follow it all the way into the city. Just watch the exit: there are two right turn lanes at the lights at the end of the off-ramp, you need to be in the right hand one and line up for the right hand lane after the lights for the on-ramp as the left lane turns left into Denbigh Ave - watch the idiots who use that lane and then try to push over cause they're so important. Then it's bus lane from there to View Road - well almost continuous bus lane. At View Rd you can access Mt Eden, Newmarket, Eden Tce, Newton, Ponsonby, the CBD...

And as others have said - don't take bus lanes for granted - watch traffic going the same way as you and for traffic turning out into the bus lane and across it...

Enjoy your commute - it can be a great part of the day when on a bike...

Sound advice guys
Dominion Road is a great choice for the bike, the only reason I take Sandringham is there is usually less traffic and less traffic lights on that road, 5 sets in total and three are pedestrian crossings., so not always active and less merging to do in the ute. SH20 isn't too bad if you know how to play the lanes and most of the traffic is heading in the opposite direction at peak hours until you get to SH1 and Maioro Streets respectively. 4 pm onwards you don't want to go past Dominion Road when heading west. It becomes a carpark so if you don't feel comfortable lane splitting avoid that end at that time, same goes for heading past Cavendish when heading east.

Kevin L.

[swbarnett]

Sound advice guys
Dominion Road is a great choice for the bike, the only reason I take Sandringham is there is usually less traffic and less traffic lights on that road, 5 sets in total and three are pedestrian crossings., so not always active and less merging to do in the ute. SH20 isn't too bad if you know how to play the lanes and most of the traffic is heading in the opposite direction at peak hours until you get to SH1 and Maioro Streets respectively. 4 pm onwards you don't want to go past Dominion Road when heading west. It becomes a carpark so if you don't feel comfortable lane splitting avoid that end at that time, same goes for heading past Cavendish when heading east.

Kevin L.
Thanks for your suggestion. I've thought about doing Sandringham before but hadn't gotten around to trying it.

I often do Dominion road (I commute solely by bike Tuakau to Auckland CDB). Today, after your suggestion I did Sandringham road. It may have been slightly longer (but I doubt it). Not only are there fewer lights etc. the traffic is much lighter (and way less cross traffic). It's also a lot easier to get to Sandringham Rd. from where I work than Dominion.

[Motorcycle Recovery]

Thanks for your suggestion. I've thought about doing Sandringham before but hadn't gotten around to trying it.

I often do Dominion road (I commute solely by bike Tuakau to Auckland CDB). Today, after your suggestion I did Sandringham road. It may have been slightly longer (but I doubt it). Not only are there fewer lights etc. the traffic is much lighter (and way less cross traffic). It's also a lot easier to get to Sandringham Rd. from where I work than Dominion.

No trouble, I'm glad it helped :)

[KiwiGeek]

Avoid Auckland ... It's always worked for ME ...
That works perfectly for us Auckland too.

[KiwiGeek]

If you are not planning on lane splitting, here is a suggestion.

When I used to live in Takanini and drive into town I would stick to the left lane until just before onramps then move into the middle lane until just after the merging had completed then back to the left up until Greenlane. After that I stuck to the two right hand lanes until I needed to move to my offramp. That might work for you.