Bikes but not cars on Grafton Bridge [Archive]

Squeak the Rat

3rd May 2006, 08:36

From our quality paper the herald. Grafton bridge will be closed for repairs for a year, and when it's open cars won't be allowed - but bikes will!

Cars to be banned from Grafton Bridge
03.05.06
By Bernard Orsman

Grafton Bridge, built nearly a century ago, will be closed next year for the equivalent of a joint replacement and when it reopens it will be used only by buses, motorcycles, bikes and emergency vehicles during weekdays.
snip blah blah snip

Only buses, emergency vehicles, motorcycles, bikes and pedestrians will be allowed to use it between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday.

Cars will be allowed on the bridge at night and weekends, as will trucks, which are now banned because of a 13-tonne weight limit.

Auckland District Health Board chairman Wayne Brown has welcomed the new measures but one taxi company owner is outraged. He said it would lead to higher fares from the city to Auckland Hospital.

Mr Brown said the bridge divided the country’s largest emergency hospital from the main city population and limiting traffic on weekdays would improve access for ambulances.

It would also improve public transport access for the hospital’s 5000 staff and one million visitors a year.

Mr Hubbard said the project would cut 14 minutes off bus travel times between the city and Newmarket for more than 65,000 people a day.

But Paul Cafferkey, part-owner of Alert Taxis, said it was "mad and ludicrous" to exclude taxis from the bridge on weekdays. It would increase the cost of a fare from the city from $10 to $18 for hospital passengers, many of whom were elderly and disabled.

Finn

3rd May 2006, 08:51

This is Council at it's best. The traffic is so bad we're going to close off certain roads. Yip, thut'll fux it. In the area, they've also blocked traffic through Wellesley St too.

Someone here needs to go postal at the Council.

MacD

3rd May 2006, 10:47

From our quality paper the herald.

Auckland District Health Board chairman Wayne Brown has welcomed the new measures but one taxi company owner is outraged. He said it would lead to higher fares from the city to Auckland Hospital.

more snipping..

But Paul Cafferkey, part-owner of Alert Taxis, said it was "mad and ludicrous" to exclude taxis from the bridge on weekdays. It would increase the cost of a fare from the city from $10 to $18 for hospital passengers, many of whom were elderly and disabled. [/SIZE]

Haven't the taxi drivers discovered the bridge from Wellesley St to Grafton Road yet? It's only been there for two or more years and provides a shorter route from the city to the Grafton Rd entrance to the hospital!?

Still given the lack of knowledge of Auckland streets displayed by most taxi drivers around here now I'm not surprised!

Swoop

3rd May 2006, 11:34

Excellent!!!

Must store that little gem away for doing a runner...
Cops cannot chase you across the bridge in their cages!

Wasp

3rd May 2006, 11:37

Cool, bring on the private roads!

Also i think if the cop was chasing you he would be allowed as its probably classes as an "emergency" situation.... be funny if he did and got plastered on the front of an ambo though :rofl:

Postie

3rd May 2006, 11:53

i don't use the bridge but i have a bike anyway, so it doesn't affect me, but i am presuming that a lot of the cost is coming from that extra 5.3 cents the govt slap on each litre of fuel. So mostly people who drive cars are paying for turning the grafton bridge into a carbon fibre bus lane, but are not allowed to use it.

And as Flinn said, i thought they were trying to solve Aucklands grid lock problem, now they are just making it worse. I bet that it will be faster for buses to go across, but i bet you never see more then one bus on there at a time anyway. Why is the council run by retards, i know we have to employ them, but couldn't they just stick to sweeping the roads or something?

Buster

3rd May 2006, 12:02

Another big :motu: to the cagers. Oh yeah and its good to see the district health board is doing its bit to fix Auckland traffic. WTF?? How much council cock has been inhaled to pass this one?? Still I guess its a good step for us bikers.

Drum

3rd May 2006, 12:06

Squeak the Rat

3rd May 2006, 12:09

And as Flinn said, i thought they were trying to solve Aucklands grid lock problem, now they are just making it worse. I bet that it will be faster for buses to go across, but i bet you never see more then one bus on there at a time anyway.
T'is how they are solving it. The intention is to make public transport the more attractive option to commuters. If they continue to increase the gap between commute times for cars compared to bus/train, then more and more people will switch to public transport, and then roads will get less congested.

At least they are letting bikes through - whether that's because they recognise bikes as a means of reducing congestion, or more likely because it's currently legal for bikes to use bus lanes therefore they have to.

Postie

3rd May 2006, 12:12

T'is how they are solving it. The intention is to make public transport the more attractive option to commuters.

they would be attractive if they stopped catching fire.

Motu

3rd May 2006, 12:14

So they ban cars from the bridge,but allow bikes - and still you guys moan! FFS,talk about hard to please....

Squeak the Rat

3rd May 2006, 12:19

So they ban cars from the bridge,but allow bikes - and still you guys moan! FFS,talk about hard to please....
My guess is 90% of people on here actually drive to work..... :dodge:

:killingme

Ixion

3rd May 2006, 12:19

Do you suppose there is any chance of persuading them to extend this to the Auckland Harbour Bridge?

I guess going for an extension to the motorways would be psuhing our luck?

Ixion

3rd May 2006, 12:20

My guess is 90% of people on here actually drive to work..... :dodge:

:killingme

Well it's their own fault then, isn't it.

Finn

3rd May 2006, 12:31

It doesnt matter what changes are made, someone will always be unhappy.

These kind of decisions are made after a lot of investigation, modelling, peer review and scrutiny.

Your opinion is not even based on any facts.

Good one dumbass. Right, a lot of investigation, modelling, peer review and scrutiny by incompentent, uneducated, ideological fucking morons that make up Council.

What colour is the sky in your world?

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 12:39

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 12:40

My guess is 90% of people on here actually drive to work..... :dodge:

:killingme

Ferry for me and sometimes bike.....

Finn

3rd May 2006, 12:42

Ferry for me

Do you always have to bring your sexuality into posts?

Postie

3rd May 2006, 12:46

So they ban cars from the bridge,but allow bikes - and still you guys moan! FFS,talk about hard to please....
like i said, doesn't bother me at all. I can just see where the car drivers will be coming from when this kicks in. I ride most of the time and i don't need to go on the bridge. I wonder if it would cost any more just to build a clip on, like the harbour bridge had. Since there're using carbon fibre and spending large

Places in Europe have been using pre-constructed polymer bridges for a while now. like this one http://www.rics.org/Builtenvironment/Buildingmaterials/Plasticsrubberchemicalandsynthetics/plastic_bridge241005.html
cheaper and carries 40 tonnes. sorted.

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 12:46

Do you always have to bring your sexuality into posts?

So is that why you are scared to pm me back you rotter.........I guess "Ferry" is the Kiwi pronounination of 'Fairy' then???...:nya:

Insanity_rules

3rd May 2006, 12:52

So is that why you are scared to pm me back you rotter.........I guess "Ferry" is the Kiwi pronounination of 'Fairy' then???...:nya:

Whatever floats your boat I guess :rofl: sorry but that pun had to be done!

Back on topic: Its kinda like that passing lane up the Kapiti coast that they close everytime theres a public holiday, I mean what the feck???? The lane normally speeds up traffic and closing it creates a crawl.

Finn

3rd May 2006, 12:53

So is that why you are scared to pm me back you rotter.........

AUTO REPLY

This is an automated response from the mailbox of: Finn

Your message content included the words; Date, Snuggles, Kisses and Breakfast. The member you sent this message to has enabled the Anti-Homo feature and as such your message has been removed automatically.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 12:56

Whatever floats your boat I guess :rofl: sorry but that pun had to be done!

Back on topic: Its kinda like that passing lane up the Kapiti coast that they close everytime theres a public holiday, I mean what the feck???? The lane normally speeds up traffic and closing it creates a crawl.

I can only think they do it to slow down holiday maniacs.

To be honest, there are other ways to get around the Grafton Bridge if you are in a car although when ever I use it on the bike to drop off at Hospital it never seems busy so does seem a daft idea when I cannot see a traffic problem......but that is the way it is and there are more important things to worry about eh?

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 13:02

AUTO REPLY

This is an automated response from the mailbox of: Finn

Your message content included the words; Date, Snuggles, Kisses and Breakfast. The member you sent this message to has enabled the Anti-Homo feature and as such your message has been removed automatically.

Thank you and have a nice day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Geeze....some men are so fickle.....I thought that beer was a good enough offer...

Hey Mr Finn

God.....whoops!!....sorry.......good to see you are on form today......

Beer still on offer if you dare......

Take care matey.

<; - )

Str8 Jacket

3rd May 2006, 13:14

<; - )

Hmmm, it may just be my dirty mind but that looks a lil rude to me! :innocent:

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 13:22

Hmmm, it may just be my dirty mind but that looks a lil rude to me! :innocent:

It is a smile with a hat!..........I have a girlfriend and I am a Christian......what's he gotta worry about.......I am most trustworthy me

Drum

3rd May 2006, 13:26

Good one dumbass. Right, a lot of investigation, modelling, peer review and scrutiny by incompentent, uneducated, ideological fucking morons that make up Council.

What colour is the sky in your world?

You are showing your complete ingorance of how the system works. The investigation, modelling etc is not done by council, it is done by consultants - and they are generally competent, highly educated and non-ideological. The subsequent decisions by Council are based on the advice of said Consultants.

Oh and just because you dont agree with someone doesnt make them a dumbass. Trogladite!

Str8 Jacket

3rd May 2006, 13:28

It is a smile with a hat!..........I have a girlfriend and I am a Christian

lol, yeah I know... and thats great to hear, I have a boyfriend and im not a christian so I get to have S E X :nya: But neither of these things have to do with a bridge in Grafton...

Drum

3rd May 2006, 13:28

Whatever floats your boat I guess :rofl: sorry but that pun had to be done!

Back on topic: Its kinda like that passing lane up the Kapiti coast that they close everytime theres a public holiday, I mean what the feck???? The lane normally speeds up traffic and closing it creates a crawl.

That "passing lane" (which is actually a Transit lane) was designed by the planners/ engineers to be two lanes in each direction at all times. The residents fought this at the environment court because they wanted to park outside their homes, and won.

So blame the residents, not the engineers.

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 13:34

lol, yeah I know... and thats great to hear, I have a boyfriend and im not a christian so I get to have S E X :nya: But neither of these things have to do with a bridge in Grafton...

Bugger...whoops wrong choice of word......he he........good on ya though

Finn

3rd May 2006, 13:42

You are showing your complete ingorance of how the system works. The investigation, modelling etc is not done by council, it is done by consultants - and they are generally competent, highly educated and non-ideological. The subsequent decisions by Council are based on the advice of said Consultants.

Oh and just because you dont agree with someone doesnt make them a dumbass. Trogladite!

What a crock of bullshit. If the "system" worked then explain how the Council and their "consultants" have improved traffic in Auckland. Everything they do turns to custard. The problem is that in NZ we don't have any competant consultants. They are just lining their own pockets and if they were held accountable for their recommendations, they'd be out of business.

The systems doesn't work so if you don't want to be called a dumbass then don't post dumbass shit. Dumbass.

Drum

3rd May 2006, 13:45

What a crock of bullshit. If the "system" worked then explain how the Council and their "consultants" have improved traffic in Auckland. Everything they do turns to custard. The problem is that in NZ we don't have any competant consultants. They are just lining their own pockets and if they were held accountable for their recommendations, they'd be out of business.

The systems doesn't work so if you don't want to be called a dumbass then don't post dumbass shit. Dumbass.

Got any examples of this 'custard'?? Or just another of your sweeping generalisations?

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 13:46

Finn

3rd May 2006, 13:49

Got any examples of this 'custard'?? Or just another of your sweeping generalisations?

You need to get out of that hick town and visit Auckland. A couple of examples for you then. Wellesley St from Grafton to Queen St. Even the knob that looks after that stretch of road had no explanation. Now Grafton Bridge.

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 13:51

You need to get out of that hick town and visit Auckland. A couple of examples for you then. Wellesley St from Grafton to Queen St. Even the knob that looks after that stretch of road had no explanation. Now Grafton Bridge.

Never seems a prob to me........maybe cause I lived in London and came to a hick town called 'Auckland'...:nya:

Drum

3rd May 2006, 13:53

You need to get out of that hick town and visit Auckland. A couple of examples for you then. Wellesley St from Grafton to Queen St. Even the knob that looks after that stretch of road had no explanation. Now Grafton Bridge.

Spent six years there and am not one of the Auckland bashing crowd. Maybe you should get out of your hick attitude.

Actually I agree with you on Wellesley Street, however, the adopted layout there was in direct contravention of the advice presented to council. i.e. the consultants said "dont do it".

MacD

3rd May 2006, 13:56

And as Flinn said, i thought they were trying to solve Aucklands grid lock problem, now they are just making it worse. I bet that it will be faster for buses to go across, but i bet you never see more then one bus on there at a time anyway. Why is the council run by retards, i know we have to employ them, but couldn't they just stick to sweeping the roads or something?

FFS, haven't any of you seen the significant roading works that have been going on in central Auckland for the past couple of years!?

As I pointed out before there is now a more direct route from the central city (Queen St) to Grafton via a 4 lane bridge from Wellesley St. Grafton Bridge is one lane each way and gridlocked most mornings and afternoons. Some of us actually commute on motorcycles and might see this as a positive step!

The predicted average passage of buses across Grafton Bridge will be about 1 per minute once this system is in place. Cars will have multi-lane alternatives in Khyber Pass Rd and Grafton Road/Wellesley St Bridge.

You know, its even possible to read up on the scheme (http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/ctc/default.asp)before forming an opinion!

Squeak the Rat

3rd May 2006, 13:57

however, the adopted layout there was in direct contravention of the advice presented to council. i.e. the consultants said "dont do it".
That's the issue right there. Most of the consultants are competent - some aren't just like in any industry. Where it falls down is the council picks, chooses and changes what it wants to implement.

Hey Drum, you're not the civil engineer who used to flat with Janine are you? - short blonde bisexual chick with big whatsits?

Postie

3rd May 2006, 14:01

Some of us actually commute on motorcycles and might see this as a positive step!

i commute on a motorcycle as i have already pointed out. But i still don't see it as a positive step. Yes there are other routes across the Grafton Gully, what do you think will happen to these routes once the Grafton Bridge is closed to cars?

Squeak the Rat

3rd May 2006, 14:05

You know, its even possible to read up on the scheme (http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/ctc/default.asp)before forming an opinion!
Much easier to complain on KiwiWhinger.....

Drum

3rd May 2006, 14:07

That's the issue right there. Most of the consultants are competent - some aren't just like in any industry. Where it falls down is the council picks, chooses and changes what it wants to implement.

Hey Drum, you're not the civil engineer who used to flat with Janine are you? - short blonde bisexual chick with big whatsits?

Agreed. And anyone who doesnt vote in the local government elections has little reason to complain about the subsequent decisions made by council.

And no, although if I were flatting, Janine sounds quite suitable!

Finn

3rd May 2006, 14:10

Agreed. And anyone who doesnt vote in the local government elections has little reason to complain about the subsequent decisions made by council.

And no, although if I were flatting, Janine sounds quite suitable!

I did vote but unfortunately, right wingers are a minority now.

MacD

3rd May 2006, 14:14

i commute on a motorcycle as i have already pointed out. But i still don't see it as a positive step. Yes there are other routes across the Grafton Gully, what do you think will happen to these routes once the Grafton Bridge is closed to cars?

They will get busier. The aim is to stop people commuting into central Auckland in their cars. The aim is to make buses (and rail) a better alternative.

At present I can commute to work faster in a car than by bus so it is not a particularly attractive alternative for me, as I suspect it is not for many other people.

Personally, I am ambivalent about making Grafton Bridge/Park Road a bus priority route. I'm not sure that routing all the buses that currently run via Khyber Pass/Symonds St past a major hospital is a great solution. My concerns are mainly with regard to noise and exhaust pollution. But I don't think just letting the congestion continue to build is any solution either. Despite Finn's dogmatic and ideological rejection of anything done by a local or central government, at least they are working on a solution.

Drum

3rd May 2006, 14:16

I did vote but unfortunately, right wingers are a minority now.

Yeah, but no shortage of right whingers eh!
Good on ya for voting, and for getting a bite outa me.
Whats the adress for the invoice for the work time I just wasted!?

Motu

3rd May 2006, 14:39

right wingers are a minority now.

You could get some funding as a minority group?....

Finn

3rd May 2006, 14:50

Despite Finn's dogmatic and ideological rejection of anything done by a local or central government, at least they are working on a solution.

Leave my dog out of this. Do you really, for just one moment think that either central or local government are capable of solving ANY of NZ's problems? Please, for the love of god (he's not real, but added for effect) give me just one example of how these morons have had a positve contribution towards areas that really matter in NZ. Please pick any of the following;

1) Health
2) Education
3) Security (i.e Policing)
4) Transport

This will be good. "At least they're doing something..." That's the good old kiwi way isn't it. Doesn't matter that they're doing it WRONG ALL THE TIME.

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 14:55

Leave my dog out of this. Do you really, for just one moment think that either central or local government are capable of solving ANY of NZ's problems? Please, for the love of god (he's not real, but added for effect) give me just one example of how these morons have had a positve contribution towards areas that really matter in NZ. Please pick any of the following;

1) Health
2) Education
3) Security (i.e Policing)
4) Transport

This will be good. "At least they're doing something..." That's the good old kiwi way isn't it. Doesn't matter that they're doing it WRONG ALL THE TIME.

Blue Sky Mr Finn.....................

Finn

3rd May 2006, 14:56

As I pointed out before there is now a more direct route from the central city (Queen St) to Grafton via a 4 lane bridge from Wellesley St. Grafton Bridge is one lane each way and gridlocked most mornings and afternoons. Some of us actually commute on motorcycles and might see this as a positive step!

WHAT? Are you completely mad? The Grafton Gully project is a disaster. There was a road there before and now there's a road with 4 traffic lights that aren't sync'd and ONE lane (under the over pass). THEN, coming back the other way you can't go straight through to Q St. Oh no, you have to go AROUND Mayoral Drive which is fucking blocked.

Before this fuck up, it used to take me around 15-20 minutes to get home. Now it takes me 30 - 40 minutes. GOOD ONE MORONS. Now add all the Grafton Bridge inbreeds and it'll get much worse.

Fooman

3rd May 2006, 14:57

Back on topic: Its kinda like that passing lane up the Kapiti coast that they close everytime theres a public holiday, I mean what the feck???? The lane normally speeds up traffic and closing it creates a crawl.

The reason they close it is to stop traffic slowing down (and accidents occuring) due to all the (sometimes insane) merging going on _after_ the passing lane finishes.

Having gone up that bit of road many a time during holiday seasons, it works.

It's really common to come up a line of traffic going slowly because of having to slow down for merging traffic that has hooned up the passing lane.

You see it all the time on conjested motorways/highways.

Cheers,
FM

Finn

3rd May 2006, 14:57

Blue Sky Mr Finn.....................

LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND TELL ME IF YOU SEE BLUE SKY...

Lou Girardin

3rd May 2006, 15:01

Grahameeboy

3rd May 2006, 15:01

LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND TELL ME IF YOU SEE BLUE SKY...

WINJA BLOCKS NOW IS IT................I always see blue skys.....it's a metaphor.....

Lou Girardin

3rd May 2006, 15:03

Before this fuck up, it used to take me around 15-20 minutes to get home. Now it takes me 30 - 40 minutes. GOOD ONE MORONS. Now add all the Grafton Bridge inbreeds and it'll get much worse.

10 mins on a bike. Especially with the bridge being a bike lane. It's all good Finn, just get out of cager mode and enjoy the thrills of 2 wheel commuting.
You sure don't need caffeine to wake you up.

Finn

3rd May 2006, 15:04

But, but, at least they're TRYING.

Just like I try really hard to pay tax but consistently fail.

Finn

3rd May 2006, 15:05

10 mins on a bike. Especially with the bridge being a bike lane. It's all good Finn, just get out of cager mode and enjoy the thrills of 2 wheel commuting.
You sure don't need caffeine to wake you up.

Well I'm certainly looking forward to it too. The new commuter arrives this Friday.

Drum

3rd May 2006, 15:07

The reason they close it is to stop traffic slowing down (and accidents occuring) due to all the (sometimes insane) merging going on _after_ the passing lane finishes.

Having gone up that bit of road many a time during holiday seasons, it works.

It's really common to come up a line of traffic going slowly because of having to slow down for merging traffic that has hooned up the passing lane.

You see it all the time on conjested motorways/highways.

Cheers,
FM

I see I was referring to the wrong passing lane in my earlier post.
Mr Foo is right. The passing lane is closed because the merge capacity is insufficient above a certain traffic volume threshold.

MacD

3rd May 2006, 15:30

Finn

3rd May 2006, 15:35

Are you sure that God's not real? You appear to have a God complex! I presume you're omnipotent from your comments?

Please stop using big words. I was educated here in New Zulland.

MacD

3rd May 2006, 15:37

This will be good. "At least they're doing something..." That's the good old kiwi way isn't it. Doesn't matter that they're doing it WRONG ALL THE TIME.

You misquoted me.

I said "working on a solution".

As opposed to whining on an internet forum.

Finn

3rd May 2006, 15:45

You misquoted me.

I said "working on a solution".

As opposed to whining on an internet forum.

What's the difference? The outcome will still be the same - failure. I don't just whine here, I give the Council and transit shit all the time. I'd hate to be a tax payer in this country.

WINJA

3rd May 2006, 17:10

It is a smile with a hat!..........I have a girlfriend and I am a Christian......what's he gotta worry about.......I am most trustworthy me
DONT YOU MEAN BOY FRIEND SAUSAGE HIDER

Insanity_rules

5th May 2006, 11:31

lol, yeah I know... and thats great to hear, I have a boyfriend and im not a christian so I get to have S E X :nya: But neither of these things have to do with a bridge in Grafton...

Well ya could possibly have sex on the Grafton bridge but not knowing what it looks like I don't really have an idea of how. :rofl:

Sorry, Captain Inapropriate strikes again!

Now off to slather the nation in the most purile inuendo I can muster... Up, up and away. Ohh ehh also sounds a bit rude.

Wolf

5th May 2006, 13:49

I think I've used the Grafton Bridge twice in my life. A big plus I'm reading into the proposal is that the Dorkland Council seem to have cottoned onto the idea that motorbikes are less congestive than cages - like Wellington seems to have done by creating shitloads of bike parks in Central Wellington to encourage people to ride bikes rather than bring in a whole cage for one person and a briefcase full of notes. It's probably still not enough but when you compare the Wellington bike parks with the three (used to be four) we have in the entire Hamilscum CBD, it's practically rolling out the Red Carpet.

I'm all for moves designed to discourage private cages, and promote motorcycles and public transport, in central city areas - would like to see some in Hamilscum rather than seeing around 90+ percent of the cars in the CBD with only one occupant (we do our bit to compensate when we take the cage by cramming strayjuliet, me and three children (in carseat and booster seats) into our little Toymota Ca-roller - the doors practically bulge when we exhale).

More "Buses, Motorbikes, Bicycles and Emergency Vehicles ONLY" roads, more motorbike parking areas and a better public transport system, that'd suit me. That said, the "better public transport system" is optional - the crap quality of public transport will encourage more people to ride a bike in preference.

I'd happily see a toll gate that buses, bikes, taxis, marked couriers and emergency vehicles can bypass and cages get tolled at ($2 per cage with a 50-cent discount for each passenger) unless the driver has a mobility card or a special waiver card that proves there is a special reason for wasting space and fuel in the CBD - such as the person's job requires (s)he drive a company car. Such waiver cards, under my benevolent regime would be hard to get, not just given away to anyone, like OBEs and knighthoods.

Str8 Jacket

5th May 2006, 13:53

Well ya could possibly have sex on the Grafton bridge but not knowing what it looks like I don't really have an idea of how. :rofl:

Sorry, Captain Inapropriate strikes again!

Well I dare say that sex on the bridge would be alot nicer than in the cemetery at the end of the bridge...
(BTW, Grafton bridge is alot like the bridge you go over to get to karori (from town) except its alot bigger.)

sorry for the thread highjack, I shall dish out the appropriate punishment when I see you next IR!