Auckland traffic

[haydes55]

Firstly to anyone considering commuting in Auckland, you'd have to be fucking retarded to willingly sit in a cage for 2 hours to get to work within the same city.

I've been in Auckland since Wednesday (girlfriend had an operation, she's all good still recovering in hospital). Tried staying at my parents in pukekohe... 2 hour drive to get to Epsom. Tried staying in West Auckland (literally 500m off the Te Atitu off ramp) and that took an hour to get in. Average speeds of "can I just park and walk the rest of the way?"

Yet on any given day I saw at most 12-15 bikes in traffic. There are enough cars trucks and buses to completely clog up kilometers of 3 and 4 lane motorways, and only a handful of bikes.

I just can't fathom how a grown ass adult can say "No thanks I don't want to get to work in 30 minutes, I'd much rather stare at the ass end of a Camry for 3+ hours a day. Fuck my family, I don't want to see them anyway, fuck sleeping, I have to be out of the house at 6am to try get to work by 8:30 and I don't get home til 7:30"

Bag Hamilton all you like. But I drive from 40km away in a different town and peak hour traffic takes me 5 minutes longer than on a weekend.

Not to mention I can't ever find a park in Auckland. More motorbikes would reduce/end congestion and would open up thousands of parks. Auckland is a miserable shit hole, the only solution is more motorbikes.

[caspernz]

Yep it's a lot of fun at times. My commuting is mixture of bike and car, by my choice. In all fairness I work shifts and live around Bombay and work in Wiri, so personally the traffic isn't a big deal most days.

But yeah if one were to live in say, Pukekohe and work in the CBD...the car isn't a good idea. Some folks are in a position to hop on the train, this would work in your case as well I'd say, albeit not ideal either.

So what's the answer? For plenty of folks it seems just to put up with the traffic I'd say, unless one has a profession that can be practiced in other parts of the country. Heck the price of houses in Auckland is ridiculous anyway.

Maybe part of the answer is some sort of congestion charge to encourage a bit of serious carpooling? And never mind the fact that the roads themselves aren't actually the only problem, loads of the congestion is caused by numpties who never learned how to merge and play nice amongst other road users...and ignore the basics of keeping junctions clear etc.

And then on days when I can't be bothered with the traffic I just take my helicopter in to work, maybe that's the answer...:bleh::laugh::eek::rolleyes::cool:

[Mike.Gayner]

haydes55 I agree with you entirely. There's no part of my brain that can fathom why people would knowingly do this to themselves. Aucklanders are (generally) aware of other options - the know that motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and public transit exist. They are aware there are other cities they could chose to live in. And yet the deliberately chose this lifestyle for themselves. They then spend an awful lot of time bitching an moaning about it.

I simply don't understand it.

[Big Dog]

Yup, took a car to work the other day, doubled the commute time.

The current roadworks might only reduce the max speed by 20 kph but the period of time rush hour runs for has extended by an hour or two. Instead of the traffic clearing by 18:30 it is still problematic at 20:00 or later.
My run into work has been increased by 15 mins.
Not complaining though, if still rather live in the Waikato and work in Auckland than have to live in Auckland or try to survive on what I would earn outside Auckland.

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[eldog]

try to survive on what I would earn outside Auckland.

Most Aucklanders don't know how lucky they are:shutup:

[Akzle]

Firstly to anyone considering Auckland, you'd have to be fucking retarded

... Auckland is a miserable shit hole,

truncated for clarity.

[Jeff Sichoe]

I have to admit I have very little sympathy for people who willingly subject themselves to living in Auckland.

Last time I went it was honestly like visiting a different country. Fucking sucks man, country getting stolen right out from under our noses.

[Luckylegs]

I have to admit I have very little sympathy for people who willingly subject themselves to living in Auckland.

Last time I went it was honestly like visiting a different country. Fucking sucks man, country getting stolen right out from under our noses.

Ok cock - what do you suppose happens to your glorious little shaky town if the millions, and millions (sorry i just had a "the rock" moment there) of aucklanders are split and you get a third of em...

Fwiw im only on holiday to earn auckland $$$ then im back home to glorious waikato

FUCK YOU AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON AND CHCH!!!!

Thats all

[Motu]

Last time I went to Auckland on a bike, I said no fucking way am I doing that again. Crawling along in endless traffic on a bike in summer is not fun. It's fun to split traffic and generally just get around the cars, but sometimes it's not possible, and you have to move at their speed. I've usually got people or things to take to or from Auckland, so have to take the car.

[Moi]

An observation...

Of those who can't deal with driving or riding in Auckland's traffic they come from:
* Hamilton
* Tauranga
* Northland
* Wellington
* South Waikato
* Other than Auckland

Those who just deal with it come from:
* Auckland
* Tuakau
* South Auckland
* Auckland - though ex-pat Waikato

Seems to be the non-Auckland commuters / drivers / riders who have the biggest problem with Auckland's traffic and appear to be making the most noise about it. As for the hardy-annual "go live somewhere else", there are many who are unable to do so as their job requires them to work in Auckland or that's the only place they can practice their profession.

As I said, just an observation...

[Akzle]

there are many who are unable to do so as their job requires them to work in Auckland or that's the only place they can practice their profession.


which doesn't minimise the fact that it's a stinking shit hole and if your life is worth so liitle you'll donante 3 hours a day to shitting in your own back yard, polluting the fuck out of shit, then you likely suffer some kind of retardation.

[Scubbo]

it's shit eh, they need to add bus lanes all down the motorway and allow motorbikes on it :scooter:

[Luckylegs]

which doesn't minimise the fact that it's a stinking shit hole and if your life is worth so liitle you'll donante 3 hours a day to shitting in your own back yard, polluting the fuck out of shit, then you likely suffer some kind of retardation.

Fuck you cunt! - oh wait, am i allowed to say that these days

[Luckylegs]

...anyway, i get paid way too much to sit in traffic. Im smart enough to have a job that allows me to decide when i travel or not to bother and just work from home.

So, is auckland so bad. Nup i get paid the big bucks and dont go near the traffic.

...no im not whoring myself out from home, for anybody who may have been witty enough to come up with that while reading above

[Ifsn8u]

So all I'm hearing on these posts is non-Aucklanders moaning about Auckland traffic. :2thumbsup

I travel albany to Papakura 5 days a week. great fun on the bike. Can't see why more don't bike. Oh yeah that's right most people think motorbiking is too dangerous.... those poor people.

[Moi]

which doesn't minimise the fact that it's a stinking shit hole and if your life is worth so liitle you'll donante 3 hours a day to shitting in your own back yard, polluting the fuck out of shit, then you likely suffer some kind of retardation.

One of your more erudite comments...

[Maha]

So all I'm hearing on these posts is non-Aucklanders moaning about Auckland traffic. :2thumbsup

I travel albany to Papakura 5 days a week. great fun on the bike. Can't see why more don't bike. Oh yeah that's right most people think motorbiking is too dangerous.... those poor people.

For more humour...read this.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/181488-Rebranding-Auckland

[Motu]

I lived in Auckland for 40 years, it's not the place I knew. Was a time I would do the Ton (160kph) commuting to work, and not on the motorway. Can't even get up to 100kph on the motorway now.

[nzspokes]

Has a motorcycle, then complains about travelling in a car.

[Voltaire]

I'd rather spend a hour or so stuck in traffic than all day working for peanuts in the provinces.:woohoo:

[Jeff Sichoe]

I'd rather pay 50% tax and set the immigration criteria such that we would struggle to fulfill our quota than sell our country short.

[Motu]

I'd rather spend a hour or so stuck in traffic than all day working for peanuts in the provinces.:woohoo:

Been there done that - take the peanuts every time.

[Big Dog]

Been there done that - take the peanuts every time.
Perhaps at the end of a forty year career when my children are old and educated enough that I have the luxury of that choice it will be mine too. Until then I have 6 mouths to feed, 3 to educate and a mortgage to pay.

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[Voltaire]

Been there done that - take the peanuts every time.

I did two years of that in Nelson in the mid 90's..... Stopped at the old house on SH 6 for a photo, traffic there has got worse too.

[buggerit]

A newspaper article from July 1962

[Gremlin]

Has a motorcycle, then complains about travelling in a car.
Well he also complained about all the other cars, probably responsible for holding up his car :laugh:

Yeah, traffic is bad, but I've also sat in Chch and Wlg traffic. Big difference is the length of time it's bad though. Over the last decade Auckland's "rush hour" has mostly been replaced by "all day shite". If there is a major accident on the motorway during morning rush or mid morning, then it will probably be screwed until evening rush.

Funny you post this, considering today I had to go Ellerslie > Bucklands Beach this evening at 1730... instead of 20min outside busy periods it took 45min in middle of crawling traffic. Stuck in the van of course. Typically however, I try to adjust my schedule to stay off roads at the critical points, be at a client, office etc. Being in IT I also work from home, and don't commute on regular hours. While stuck in the traffic I was certainly musing about how people can do that every day and why can't flexible hours or shifted hours be used more...

Now, remember Christmas is coming up so traffic is worse than normal... it's also going to continue getting worse for 1-2 weeks. Little after Christmas it's actually really good, as all the Aucklanders are now clogging up Tauranga, Coromandel etc :nya:

[rastuscat]

I used to live in Sunnynook. And work in Glen Innes. I thank my stars my wife and I separated and I left Auckland behind in 2003.

Each time I visit I wonder why I stayed so long.

Sent from Outer Space

[haydes55]

Has a motorcycle, then complains about travelling in a car.
It's frustrating, but after having her hip cut into 4 pieces and screwed back together, my Mrs can't ride pillion back home to kihikihi.

I just always assumed that at least 1000 people would choose to ride a motorbike through traffic instead of crawling. You'd be lucky to count 100 motorbikes ride past you if you sat by a motorway for 3 hours at rush hour(s).

We've all seen the research that if 1 in 10 drivers switched to a motorbike, rush hour would almost entirely disappear. It looks like less than 1 in 1000 people have some sanity.

[danchop]

unfortunately i have a job wheres theres only 2 employed for the sector in new zealand and both positions are based in auckland....i really have no option

[oldiebutagoody]

You'd be lucky to count 100 motorbikes ride past you if you sat by a motorway for 3 hours at rush hour(s).

We've all seen the research that if 1 in 10 drivers switched to a motorbike, rush hour would almost entirely disappear. It looks like less than 1 in 1000 people have some sanity.


I commute daily.

My commute is a light traffic route, Massey in the west to Albany, about 15 mins, on probably the last congestion free part of the motorway network.

I take one of the bikes when the mood takes me, other days depends how I feel. It is actually not any faster on the bike than in my van, and no opportunity for splitting/filtering will gain any time along the way. Risks vs reward means 2 mins maximum gain played off against a huge increase in risk of encountering inattentive drivers or non signalling lane changers or hyper speeding weavers. At the end of the day bike or car the whole network relies on everyone knowing where they are going and how to get there intelligently.

I have been passed often by WRX cage types who believe they are in a rush hour race, bikes weaving in a serpentine manner through the gaps in 100 kph traffic (steel caps, shorts and hoodie type), and for a 2-3 min gain until they are caught up and have to sit at the lights next to me.

I am back in Auckland currently for career, with a shift back down lower north island in about a month. I spent 20 years in the lower north Island, and it was very very good to me and the family. Auckland has the jobs, but little else you can either afford time or money to participate in.

Traffic is much much worse than it used to be. Commuting is commuting and you arrange your life around it accordingly, but the bottleneck if you are coming into and just trying to get through Auckland and out the other side is now something to be done at night time only.

There are a lot less motorbikes commuting than there were many years ago. Is it the increased risks from worse driving, better cars/less developed driving skills? Heavier volumes and fewer gaps to shoot through? less etiquette on the roads? There was a definite effort to get as many off motorbikes as possible through the last couple of decades by ACC and LTSA, it was never considered a solution to traffic congestion in comparison to forcing us onto buses and trains etc.

I support the concept of bus/motorbike lanes only on all arterial routes into AK, but then I am biased. Soon it won't be a problem anymore for me. I'll try not to let the door hit my ass on the way out.

[Voltaire]

which doesn't minimise the fact that it's a stinking shit hole and if your life is worth so liitle you'll donante 3 hours a day to shitting in your own back yard, polluting the fuck out of shit, then you likely suffer some kind of retardation.

Your right, could be spending those 3 hours a day on KB posting witty,insightful comments on life in Auckland and subsistence bikeless living that is the fault of others :laugh::laugh:....egg.

[swarfie]

Yep, I'm one of those from the Waikato that bitch about Auckland traffic when I'm up there. I lived and worked there for a while years ago and so glad I didn't stay. It seems like the traffic gets incrementally (....haha, mentally, see what I did there) worse every time I go there. My pay rate is VERY little less (cents not dollars) than my compatriots in the big smoke and it takes me 7 minutes on my pushy to get to work:2thumbsup

I'll stay in the Tron thanks:banana:

You lot are welcome to it:brick:

[Akzle]

unfortunately i have a job wheres theres only 2 employed for the sector in new zealand and both positions are based in auckland....i really have no option

you make toilet paper?

[Luckylegs]

....and once you get where youre goin, good luck finding parking, or if in the cbd affording it.

I FRICKIN LOVE MOTORCYCLES!!!

[Mike.Gayner]

Perhaps at the end of a forty year career when my children are old and educated enough that I have the luxury of that choice it will be mine too. Until then I have 6 mouths to feed, 3 to educate and a mortgage to pay.

Of course, if you weren't in Auckland your mortgage would be a lot smaller. And BTW, I know a lot of Aucklanders aren't clued up on the outside world, but we have schools down here too.

[pritch]

I'd rather spend a hour or so stuck in traffic than all day working for peanuts in the provinces.:woohoo:

That can be largely illusory. Usually in Auckland, while the pay may higher, so will be the tax on that, and the rates will be higher. So too are the wages and fixed costs of almost everybody you will have to deal with resulting in their charges being higher. Then there's the interest on an Auckland mortgage.

It's possible to have a similar, or better, lifestyle in the provinces on a lower income. The trick is in working out where the balance is.

[pritch]

Of course, if you weren't in Auckland your mortgage would be a lot smaller. And BTW, I know a lot of Aucklanders aren't clued up on the outside world, but we have schools down here too.

According to his profile he's not in Auckland, he's in the Waikato.

[Voltaire]

That can be largely illusory. Usually in Auckland, while the pay may higher, so will be the tax on that, and the rates will be higher. So too are the wages and fixed costs of almost everybody you will have to deal with resulting in their charges being higher. Then there's the interest on an Auckland mortgage.

It's possible to have a similar, or better, lifestyle in the provinces on a lower income. The trick is in working out where the balance is.

I don't disagree with you for a moment, my Son lives in Rotorua and as an apprentice Electrician he gets paid much the same as the Auckland branch he transferred from.
I'm probably going to bail Auckland in the next 5 years but most likely head overseas for a while.

[Scubbo]

we moved for work, we stayed for the amenities and capital gains :eek: -- sell up in 5-10 years, settle anywhere else in NZ and live like a king from those gains:weird: auckland is NZ for sale to the world so has huge demand and that won't stop until our government gives away one of our only worth while bargaining chips....

[Big Dog]

Of course, if you weren't in Auckland your mortgage would be a lot smaller. And BTW, I know a lot of Aucklanders aren't clued up on the outside world, but we have schools down here too.
Lol, my mortgage is relatively small, I don't live in Auckland...
It is not the presence of schools so much as funding all the bits and pieces that are required. Much easier to afford when you earn 120% more than similarly qualified jobs in the provinces.

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[Big Dog]

Also I get that I could go halfway and move to the tron or Wellington, but why trade in one city for another? It would take years to pay the costs and is still have to commute through traffic to sit in a concrete and glass nerd farm.
My ideal would be to one day be good enough at my job that I can telecommute more days than not.

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[R650R]

I've always thought Hamilton is a shittier place to drive around in than Auckland. Its just as busy but without the well travelled cosmopiltan international crowd that knows how to merge like a zip and let people into ques etc. Hamilton is just and oversized redneck parking lot.
Lived in akld for over three years, yes the triaffic is shite at time but not all the time. And you leanr where and when to travel and shortcuts.
Been back up there several times in recent years and its gotten busier but its ok.
Auckland is a great place, theres always something interesting happening.

Just looked at my gopro... 4.50pm enetring johmnstone tunnels tollmway-5.40pm cresting Manurewa hill... 65km in 50mins in full rush hour traffic.... what traffic jam. Even on car it wouldnt have taken too much longer as im not that aggresive at lane splitting.

[Swoop]

Little after Christmas it's actually really good, as all the Aucklanders are now clogging up Tauranga, Coromandel etc :nya:

Yup. Uni's and schools out and 2/3rds of Auckland fucks off. (1/3 go north, 1/3 go to coro)


IF Auckland council actually wanted to fix the traffic, they would bring in a congestion charge of $20 per day to enter the central city. Coupled with this is moving school hours so they are later in the day (10am - 4pm) and booting Auckland University out of the CBD.
More buses required with smarter routing (we're getting there on this matter) and incentivise cycling with cycle lanes and possibly employers funding employees with XX cents per km to/from work.

With a new idiot running the show, there's fuck all chance of anything happening apart from putting up taxes...

[Akzle]

...biking or motorcycling which would get a bit scary if it started to rain.

oh please. enlighten us

[pritch]

auckland is NZ for sale to the world so has huge demand and that won't stop until our government gives away one of our only worth while bargaining chips....

Part of the problem in and around Auckland is land banking. In addition to immigrants buying a house to live in, or to qualify for the right school zone, foreigners buy a house (or farm) with no intention of using it for anything much except the capital gain.

Australian politicians tend to be more loopy than ours but they have at least one good idea. New immigrants can not buy an existing house in Australia. If they want to own their own house they have to build. That eases the pressure on the existing housing stock at least a little.

That might help here but our government sits on their hands doing nothing much at all.

[Gremlin]

... and booting Auckland University out of the CBD
I think I remember reading somewhere that Auckland Unis accounted for 20k vehicle trips per day in and out of the city... :eek5:

[R650R]

and incentivise cycling with cycle lanes and possibly employers funding employees with XX cents per km to/from work.

...

Cycling will NOT ever be the saviour of road congestion in Auckland or anywhere else in NZ.

I choose to pushbike to work more often than drive if the weather is right, about a 7km journey and only ten mins longer than going by car or mc. But I do it for the exercise and kickstart to the metabolism for the day/night.
I've lived in Akld and screw push biking up there, too hilly and the weather is too changeable and unpredictable.
Here in HB we have a massive network of concrete and limestone bike trails allowing commuting between Hastings and Napier and in between. And our roads are prob bit safer and bike friendly but guess what, SFA people bike to work.
But on the weekends there packed with all the alkies touring the vineyards......... and families etc....

Anyway I like biking but its no good for grocery shopping on way home or other errands. A lot of people have two or more jobs these days and it just wont work for them, plus picking up the kids etc....

[Luckylegs]

Maybe Aucklanders would prefer to spend 4 hrs in traffic each day than risk death by biking or motorcycling which would get a bit scary if it started to rain.We've all stopped riding cos its a group ride sometimes and we know now how dangerous that is

[Luckylegs]

Maybe Aucklanders would prefer to spend 4 hrs in traffic each day than risk death by biking or motorcycling which would get a bit scary if it started to rain.

And ffs... 4 hours really. Id imagine the only ones who spend that time in traffic who are the ones who headed the nz redneck bullshit and moved out of aucks to a quit little existence but have to commute back in

And since your worth an infraction. Shut up and die you gormless idiot!!!!!

[Akzle]

More crashes happen in wet weather
just quit while your ahead there champ.
you fingering the causes of crashes would be a bit like a stevie wonder judging the best looking tits competition.

[Luckylegs]

More crashes happen in wet weather due to stopping distances having to be longer which most people dont think about. So even if you allow a longer stopping distance the car behind may not.

Actially sport - its more likely due to the cold than the rain as well as the fact we're possobly ( i know i am) far more complacent in the dry cos we assume we have all tje grip in the world

[Luckylegs]

just quit while your ahead there champ.
you fingering the causes of crashes would be a bit like a stevie wonder judging the best looking tits competition.

I assume from some of its posts - the same sideways head to head motion is the same as stevie. Fwiw, that could also be adandy way of determing a good set of tits if placed in the right position

[Voltaire]

Maybe Aucklanders would prefer to spend 4 hrs in traffic each day than risk death by biking or motorcycling which would get a bit scary if it started to rain.


More crashes happen in wet weather due to stopping distances having to be longer which most people dont think about. So even if you allow a longer stopping distance the car behind may not.

4 hours of traffic or rear ended to death in the rain...... I'll stay in Auckland :laugh:

Got any other great stats on Auckland you'd like to share... us Jaffa's really want to know :zzzz::zzzz:

sent from Iphone whilst stuck in traffic.

[nzspokes]

Cycling will NOT ever be the saviour of road congestion in Auckland or anywhere else in NZ.

I choose to pushbike to work more often than drive if the weather is right, about a 7km journey and only ten mins longer than going by car or mc. But I do it for the exercise and kickstart to the metabolism for the day/night.
I've lived in Akld and screw push biking up there, too hilly and the weather is too changeable and unpredictable.
Here in HB we have a massive network of concrete and limestone bike trails allowing commuting between Hastings and Napier and in between. And our roads are prob bit safer and bike friendly but guess what, SFA people bike to work.
But on the weekends there packed with all the alkies touring the vineyards......... and families etc....

Anyway I like biking but its no good for grocery shopping on way home or other errands. A lot of people have two or more jobs these days and it just wont work for them, plus picking up the kids etc....

EBikes are taking off and resolve all of those problems.

[nzspokes]

Maybe Aucklanders would prefer to spend 4 hrs in traffic each day than risk death by biking or motorcycling which would get a bit scary if it started to rain.

Only if they ride as badly as you. Ive been doing it 5 years, no big deal.

[Boostinu13]

Hating on Auckland traffic? Sounds like fun! Can not stand it myself, keep trying to convince the other half to move but all of our family is up here.
Luckily I work 12 minutes no traffic from work (so 20mins on average). I use to leave for work at 7am and have clear sailing, now even if I leave at 6/630 it can be congested (been approx 1.5-2years). When it rains, it is even worse.

I remember on the way back from raro (fav place in the world) the screen saying Auckland has one of the best public transport systems in the world.... It is good sometimes.

I believe but I may be wrong that they want to greatly increase NZs population and Aucklands... Some ridiculous number of homes are going up in my area and its already getting stupid.

I refuse to take state highway 1 here, as you have to remember 12am to 12pm Mon-Sun oh its Auckland work traffic..... (ofcourse sarcasm.. half)

[Luckylegs]

...A lot of people have two or more jobs these days and it just wont work for them, plus picking up the kids etc....

Really??? A cursory glance at stats nz says you might have chucked that out there in a mamner not dis-similar to cassina... Shaaame bro!

[Madness]

I fucking love Auckland traffic. I get paid to sit in it with a free vehicle, free gas and fucking awesome aircon. Would I ride in it? Fuck that with a big stick.

[Motu]

Auckland was good for a younger me...in the '50's and '60's it was almost rural - I remember walking to school barefoot on a frosty morning, leaving green footprints, breaking the crust on a nice warm cowpat. In the '70's, as in my sig - in and out of jobs, running free. I could choose to work anywhere, any time...walk out of one, and straight into another, or have a couple of months off to build a bike. Waging war with society - I could be a rebel, and no one cared. In a small town the bosses hold you to ransom over a job - don't like the job, well you can fuck off if you like...so you have to suck up and stay. You 're a bit wierd, the whole fucking town knows about you.

[Delerium]

which doesn't minimise the fact that it's a stinking shit hole and if your life is worth so liitle you'll donante 3 hours a day to shitting in your own back yard, polluting the fuck out of shit, then you likely suffer some kind of retardation.

Oh fuck. Up. Your inane shit is boring.

[danchop]

you make toilet paper?
Close.......i deliver shit

[Mike.Gayner]

Oh fuck. Up. Your inane shit is boring.

Mad Aucklander. Huge mortgage got you stressed?

[Berries]

If I may interject, on behalf of the south island, ha fucking ha.

People from Hamilton slagging off Auckland? Aren't they one and the same?

[Night Falcon]

spent last weekend in the jungle. Traffic has got much slower up there from even 5yrs ago. Lots of bikes lane splitting. Not being used to it I wouldn't do it, just a matter of time before some cager half asleep does something unpredictable. Couldn't wait to leave the place....although the meal on Friday night at the 360 restaurant up the sky tower was 1st class....I had the chicken :corn:

[nzspokes]

spent last weekend in the jungle. Traffic has got much slower up there from even 5yrs ago. Lots of bikes lane splitting. Not being used to it I wouldn't do it, just a matter of time before some cager half asleep does something unpredictable. Couldn't wait to leave the place....although the meal on Friday night at the 360 restaurant up the sky tower was 1st class....I had the chicken :corn:

Not that unusual to end up in a group filtering. 3 bikes at my work and about 8 up the street. 25 mins each way.

[eldog]

spent last weekend in the jungle. Traffic has got much slower up there from even 5yrs ago.I had the chicken :corn:

yes traffic is more and quality of driving worse.

much better when school and uni are off and betterer still when everyone is off on holiday.

you had the chicken with the self saucing red stuff?:whistle:

[eldog]

Auckland traffic - think of it as a giant group ride, just everyone is going someplace else.:wacko:

[jasonu]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11766971

erghkroegfr;eowg53

[Moi]

What traffic?

Went from near Eden Park to Penrose / Mt Wellington early this afternoon. Nice easy drive, no issues, traffic flowed nicely along Urban Route 9 - Balmoral, Greenlane West - and Gt South Rd. Easy peasy... and then back through Onehunga...

So what are you all getting your knickers in a knot about?

This is traffic:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnGlYG8UjFk

[Swoop]

I think I remember reading somewhere that Auckland Unis accounted for 20k vehicle trips per day in and out of the city... :eek5:
Sounds about right. Notice the ease in traffic congestion when the holidays are on?


Cycling will NOT ever be the saviour of road congestion in Auckland or anywhere else in NZ.
Absolutely.
It is just one string in the bow, however, of fixes that are needed to get a solution.

[Voltaire]

Queenstown Traffic:

I was there for a couple of days on the way to the Burt Munro and its awful. Plus the locals are too ignorant to let anyone out of a side street. At least they are building a two lane bridge out of there to replace the rather quaint tarred wooden plank one.

Personally I can't see the attraction for the place. Been there twice in the last few years and its all tacky shops and tourists.

[Laava]

Queenstown Traffic:

I was there for a couple of days on the way to the Burt Munro and its awful. Plus the locals are too ignorant to let anyone out of a side street. At least they are building a two lane bridge out of there to replace the rather quaint tarred wooden plank one.

Personally I can't see the attraction for the place. Been there twice in the last few years and its all tacky shops and tourists.

It's like a big paihia without the predatory local streetlife.

[swbarnett]

Queenstown Traffic:

I was there for a couple of days on the way to the Burt Munro and its awful. Plus the locals are too ignorant to let anyone out of a side street. At least they are building a two lane bridge out of there to replace the rather quaint tarred wooden plank one.

Personally I can't see the attraction for the place. Been there twice in the last few years and its all tacky shops and tourists.
I totally agree. We were down there in March and, quite frankly, the only reason to go there was as a starting point to fly in to. The traffic was worse than Auckland. The only saving grace is that it's over a much smaller area.

[Moi]

... Notice the ease in traffic congestion when the holidays are on? ...

If you live near to a primary or intermediate school, before and after school the traffic is chaotic...

it would be so much better if kids walked to their local school rather than being driven.

[jafagsx250]

Would a congestion charge like London and a toll on using the motorways with biked exempted from the congestion charge of course help solve the crap traffic? Provided the money was used for upgrading the trains that would help. I haven't read anything about it so could be wrong.

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[Voltaire]

North Shore Traffic:

Company did its usual mystery tour Xmas party yesterday, amazingly someone thought it was a good idea to have a 80's

themed party and take a bus to Devonport.

Nearly and hour each way of a friggen bus listening to 80's music that I'd hoped I'd never hear again played at full volume.

The really sad part was millennials knew all the words to Eye of the Tiger, the Final Countdown and other forgettable MOR crap.

I honestly could not do that drive every day car or bike, probably just cash up move to the Provinces and go on the dole until

I retire.

[Moi]

Always been a problem that road...

Back in the sixties I would go and stay with cousins who lived on Lake Rd not far from Takapuna Grammar... in those days there were two very distinct "rush periods" of about 30 minutes on Lake Rd - one in the morning TO Devonport and one in the afternoon FROM Devonport*

In between there was the occasional Devonport Ferries bus and a few cars...





* for the naval base

[Swoop]

Totally agree regarding Devonport. It's a shithole where the residents refuse to allow a second road to run along the mangrove-infested coast.
Worked there for a few years and hated it each day.



If you live near to a primary or intermediate school, before and after school the traffic is chaotic...

it would be so much better if kids walked to their local school rather than being driven.
Spot on! Combat "obesity" with a bit of healthy walking AND ease traffic.
I think it should be prohibited to transport your children to school if they live closer than XX Km to the school.

[Moi]

.... Spot on! Combat "obesity" with a bit of healthy walking AND ease traffic.
I think it should be prohibited to transport your children to school if they live closer than XX Km to the school.

I'd be even more draconian... your children go to the local primary / intermediate school... they walk there or ride their scooter / bike... BUT you're zoned for that school so your children go there.

[Voltaire]

Totally agree regarding Devonport. It's a shithole where the residents refuse to allow a second road to run along the mangrove-infested coast.
Worked there for a few years and hated it each day.



Spot on! Combat "obesity" with a bit of healthy walking AND ease traffic.
I think it should be prohibited to transport your children to school if they live closer than XX Km to the school.

20 kms....thats a bit tough.
I lived in Whangaparoa in the 70's and had to walk about 20 minutes to catch the bus to Silverdale, change there and bus to Takapuna to Rosmini College. You could not pay me to live over the shore.

[Big Dog]

Totally agree regarding Devonport. It's a shithole where the residents refuse to allow a second road to run along the mangrove-infested coast.
Worked there for a few years and hated it each day.



Spot on! Combat "obesity" with a bit of healthy walking AND ease traffic.
I think it should be prohibited to transport your children to school if they live closer than XX Km to the school.
I think if they are in zone they should have to walk.

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[pritch]

I think if they are in zone they should have to walk.



You guys are haven't thought this through. Think of all the robbery, rape, and arson the little crims would commit en route to and from school. :whistle:

[Big Dog]

You guys are haven't thought this through. Think of all the robbery, rape, and arson the little crims would commit en route to and from school. :whistle:
So maybe a responsible adult will need to prise themselves off the couch?
Maybe... seems like a bit of a stretch... used to happen every day all over this country not that long ago.

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[Berries]

I'd be even more draconian... your children go to the local primary / intermediate school... they walk there or ride their scooter / bike... BUT you're zoned for that school so your children go there.
No. The children grow up, breed and bring more mouths in to the world that is Auckland. Two choices, kill all newborns north of the Bombays wherever the fuck they are or make them go to a school more than 200km from the zone they are in forcing the parents to move out of Dodge and release some of the pressure on the wonderful city of Auckland.


If that's a bit harsh just start with the fat kids and the gingas.

[Moi]

So maybe a responsible adult will need to pry themselves off the couch?
Maybe... seems like a bit of a stretch... used to happen every day all over this country not that long ago.

Still does in our street... the kids all walk down to the end and catch the "walking bus" to the local full primary school...

[Big Dog]

Still does in our street... the kids all walk down to the end and catch the "walking bus" to the local full primary school...
Still happens in Tuakau too. No walking bus but there are plenty of kids walk and some parents clearly have more kids than could possibly be theirs.
I didn't see much of it when living out west. My daughter walked the 3.5 - 4 kms each way to school. Called it child abuse at first... until she saw the benefits to her figure.


Her school was a joke to drop kids of as the few times I have her a ride, many of the cars leaving the school would stop at houses 500m away.
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[Swoop]

20 kms....thats a bit tough.
I lived in Whangaparoa in the 70's and had to walk about 20 minutes to catch the bus to Silverdale, change there and bus to Takapuna to Rosmini College. You could not pay me to live over the shore.
Why I put the "XX" into the distance. Each school would set their own distance dependent on the terrain.

As for the Shore... Grew up there and occasionally visit eastwards. Far better places to live than there!

You guys are haven't thought this through. Think of all the robbery, rape, and arson the little crims would commit en route to and from school. :whistle:
Well, I guess catholic schools will remain a problem...

Still does in our street... the kids all walk down to the end and catch the "walking bus" to the local full primary school...
Walking bus is a superb concept! Have seen it in action in this area for the primary kids.
A great approach / solution.

[Gremlin]

Spot on! Combat "obesity" with a bit of healthy walking AND ease traffic.
I think it should be prohibited to transport your children to school if they live closer than XX Km to the school.
I remember years ago (more than a decade) when my bro was at Intermediate, the school had a bizarre rule that you couldn't cycle to school unless you lived more than 2km away or something... didn't make much sense...

[jafagsx250]

Even today on the holiday period there was literally stop start traffic for a quarter of an hour at papakura. I was even jealous of the Harley Davidson riders who splitted past.

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[Berries]

Even today on the holiday period there was literally stop start traffic for a quarter of an hour at papakura. I was even jealous of the Harley Davidson riders who splitted past.
You should get a bike.

[jafagsx250]

You should get a bike.


I have one already, my girlfriend doesn't and I can't take her on the back yet.


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[R650R]

You guys are haven't thought this through. Think of all the robbery, rape, and arson the little crims would commit en route to and from school. :whistle:

Its already happening, its swept under the carpet as it makes the cops and school look bad. All under the guise of the youth court and privacy act etc.....

We had an eight year old brazenly steal an umbrella off our back porch, pretty minor stuff but turns out hes a 'problem' child their trying to save... the cops knew who he was just by description....

[R650R]

I remember years ago (more than a decade) when my bro was at Intermediate, the school had a bizarre rule that you couldn't cycle to school unless you lived more than 2km away or something... didn't make much sense...

About the same time, local high school and intermediate removed the bike stands from the road side with safest access to the other side of school and busier street. One got turned into studenst cars carpark.
At the time (pushbikes were still pricey even for average stuff) thieves were picking up bikes chained to the stand and putting the whole lot into back of transit vans.
Guess banning bikes/restricting was easier than putting a lock on the gate or something.....

[Luckylegs]

Its already happening, its swept under the carpet as it makes the cops and school look bad. All under the guise of the youth court and privacy act etc.....

We had an eight year old brazenly steal an umbrella off our back porch, pretty minor stuff but turns out hes a 'problem' child their trying to save... the cops knew who he was just by description....

I can't read you tone - Do you begrudge an eight year old being given a chance???. What would you rather we did with 'em. Lock em up? maybe cut-off their hands?

[PrincessBandit]

Lived and commuted in Auckland all my adult life. We avoid going into the city (AKL CBD) as much as possible. The motorway traffic is diabolical and taking the bike isn't always an option. The train tends to be our preferred mode of transport when we have to force ourselves to head "into town".

Even when I've taken the bike and used the advantage of filtering and splitting you constantly have to be on the look out for other splitters who feel the need to do it at warp speed behind you in addition to watching for all those little telltale signs from drivers who may or may not be aware that you're about to squeeze past them. It's no wonder that many riders might prefer the relative safety of their cage and accept the penalty of sitting in a queue.