Message to the AUT / UoA riders

[90s]

Hi Uni riders,

The Universities are consulting at the moment, and this may seriously affect you.

Quote: "The Universities' Travel Plan: The Universities' Travel Plan (UTP) will make it easier for more people to travel to and around the CBD's Learning Quarter. A wide ranging research programme has helped us to develop a range of recommended actions. These will affect transport infrastructure & facilities, services, ticketing, marketing and information over the next 10 years. We want to hear what you think before the plan is finalised... "

At AUT in the first round of consultation not one motorbiker was registered within the the largest faculty (to my understanding). I have been working to raise awareness of this, especially for example that there is a desire in some quarters to restrict and change current parking arrangements. I can't go into much detail in this forum, but basically it is in your interest to fo to the survey (it has been me leaving leaflets on bikes at AUT btw)

http://www.travelwise.org.nz/utp/

and ask for more parking etc for us, that parking for bikes remains free, and that popular places outside buildings remain available. I notice that parking outside the business school at AUT is very popular for example, and if you want to stay parking there you should address this survey.

You can also ask for more on-street bike parks, lanes etc.
Outside AUT and AoU every day I see hundreds - no exageration - of bikes. If the planning is based on a response number of zero then we will get exactly what we ask for!

[sAsLEX]

Hmm would take a week of 'visual' surveys to confirm that the bike parks at UoA aren't big enough, but burecrats wouldn't think of that.

[Chrislost]

I usually park on a footpath. cant be arsed looking for a bike park anymore.

[sAsLEX]

Under the stairs next to the gym is the best...... not meant to but its dry and out of the way

[Theatre]

Thats gotta be one of the most poorly worded surveys I've ever seen. The whole agreeing/disagreeing thing is pretty ambiguous.

I'd personally like to see bikes back on Alfred street. Parking there was way easier/safer than dicing with the traffic on Symonds street. Besides, bikes are far less of a danger to students than the courier vans I see practicing their drag technique down there. Couldnt care less even if they had some rule where you had to switch the engine off before going into the street and just coast down to park.

[xwhatsit]

Thats gotta be one of the most poorly worded surveys I've ever seen. The whole agreeing/disagreeing thing is pretty ambiguous.

I'd personally like to see bikes back on Alfred street. Parking there was way easier/safer than dicing with the traffic on Symonds street. Besides, bikes are far less of a danger to students than the courier vans I see practicing their drag technique down there. Couldnt care less even if they had some rule where you had to switch the engine off before going into the street and just coast down to park.

Damn straight, those courier vans have nearly hit me a couple of times. They're even worse now because there's less traffic to slow them down.

Parking on Albert St was always my favourite, because that way I could easily bump start my bike down the hill :D

Has anybody tried parking on the footpath there? Just turned bike off, then wheeled it over onto the footpath? Reckon you'd get ticketed? Normally you can park on any footpath, wonder about parking on a footpath in a closed street.

[Hanne]

Thats gotta be one of the most poorly worded surveys I've ever seen. The whole agreeing/disagreeing thing is pretty ambiguous.

I'd personally like to see bikes back on Alfred street. Parking there was way easier/safer than dicing with the traffic on Symonds street. Besides, bikes are far less of a danger to students than the courier vans I see practicing their drag technique down there. Couldnt care less even if they had some rule where you had to switch the engine off before going into the street and just coast down to park.

I have to agree with you there... no option for 'not applicable' and most of the questions were very broad and lacked any real focus. No mention of making any changes to Alfred Street rules in there either, which I think would be a good idea. What i don't understand is why it was not made into a bus lane like the rest of the bus lanes around the city? The bikes were never much of a problem.

Anyway, I have suggested expanded parking because you are much more likely to want to ride in if you know you will be able to find a spot. I mostly come in around midday, and often have difficultly finding enough room for my bike, despite the extra parking outside engineering.

[lti]

Ive found the new parks on symonds st just outside engineering to be pretty convenient. i certainly get less exercise not walking from alfred st each day. But symonds st is just plain dangerous to navigate.

It seems like only a matter of time before another motorcyclist is killed by a bus or car on it.

[xwhatsit]

Yeah... even parking can be tricky, especially when the bike parking is nearly at capacity.

Blat down Symonds St, indicate left, pull off and brake. Cars go whizzing by you very close. Next, somehow you've got to back into the spot, and it's quite difficult to do so without you front wheel sticking right out into the lane. Cars going to wait for you? Hell no. Just wait for a red light, so the traffic is backed up. Meanwhile, cars are still whizzing by about 5cm from your right foot.

[InsaneFreak]

Princess Street would be a more ideal place. Considerably less traffic, and its not that much further to walk.

That said, I don't see why the university cant come to the party and allow parking in some of its car parks. There's a number of people who park in 38 Princess St, without having to remove parks for cars. I'm sure a number of other parks could be easily worked to fit bikes in. Wynyard St has loads of room.

[90s]

Princess Street would be a more ideal place. Considerably less traffic, and its not that much further to walk.

That said, I don't see why the university cant come to the party and allow parking in some of its car parks. There's a number of people who park in 38 Princess St, without having to remove parks for cars. I'm sure a number of other parks could be easily worked to fit bikes in. Wynyard St has loads of room.

Thanks for the comments guys. Make sure you put them into the survey as this is being taken pretty seriously.

[90s]

And thanks Mods for making this a 'sticky'. Not sure how to thank the mod that did it though, so a little lurve to you all.

[Squiggles]

i put in that tryto get more of what is happening under the science center, where infront of some of the carparks theres a large gap then a walkway, bikes easily back into the gap and dont block the walkway.... keeps em dry :yes:

symonds st can be dodgey for parking in once you've found a spot, i just wait till its all stopped or if i can see it from a long way back come in from the footpath

[mbazza]

Parking on footpaths for motorbikes and scooters is encouraged. What fine people! Cheers - :mellow:

[erix]

i put in that tryto get more of what is happening under the science center, where infront of some of the carparks theres a large gap then a walkway, bikes easily back into the gap and dont block the walkway.... keeps em dry :yes:

symonds st can be dodgey for parking in once you've found a spot, i just wait till its all stopped or if i can see it from a long way back come in from the footpath

That is a very nice spot. BUT

The first time I park my scooter there, I have one part stolen by some pig... WTF:angry:! And I never put my scooter there since. (Now my 250)

Rain is less harm than missing parts. I dont want to loss my break pad next time.:dodge:

[90s]

OK, the survey is currently being discussed. The movement of students to UoA and AUT is the single largest commuter group and single most travelled to destination in NZ. After the increased response from bikers I have it from those very close to the project that our needs have been reconsidered and are currently being assessed.

My thanks to all who filled in the survey.

[90s]

Oh, and just a reminder to AUT business students - do NOT park outside the glass main doors. It causes an obstruction and is not a good idea. I fought hard to get us a reprieve for parking at this spot, and irresponsible parking will get parking here revoked - and we are trying to get this listed as an official spot.

I WILL post-it your bike if you are over the entrance; I may move your bikes; AUT could possibly remove your bike.

So keep it cool eh?

[avgas]

I doubt no motorcyclists were interviewed, a good handful of the lecturers at AUT ride bikes, and park in the WS block car park building.
But then again, i havent been to uni for about 10 months now

[90s]

I doubt no motorcyclists were interviewed, a good handful of the lecturers at AUT ride bikes, and park in the WS block car park building.
But then again, i havent been to uni for about 10 months now

Are you still a student? :yes:

Anyway, several motorbikers were interviewed that I know of, and I would be one of them. In my department quite a few staff ride, inc. my GSX600F, a SV1000 and other typically larger bikes. Majority of students ride scooters.
The GSX600 in WS is not mine, although I have parked my old gal next it. Shabby she looks then.
Any day there are generally around 100 plus bikes (inc. scooters) using the Business School as a base, and about 12-15 in WS (mainly 'real' bikes).

Still please post serious advice or suggestions here I will ensure they are heard for phase II, consultation.

[HermaphroBiker]

I dont go to uni there, but i see students' bikes all over the place and i feel pretty sorry for those guys that get buggered because of it.

they should dedicate a bunch of spaces on each major car park around the uni...fair's fair. ;)

[EntSetZen]

I doubt no motorcyclists were interviewed, a good handful of the lecturers at AUT ride bikes, and park in the WS block car park building.
But then again, i havent been to uni for about 10 months now

Yes your right, I could name 3 AUT lecturers right now that ride (or have ridden in the past) to uni. Personally I like parking at the Auckland City Library because its right next to WT and WX which are my main lecture buildings. I have never parked outside the new business building. I sometimes park by WS or under the Maori building or in the quad by SJS when I go to the AUT gym. Mine is the black Suzuki Bandit 250, say hi. Cheers.

[90s]

OK, the travel plan has been released, see:

http://www.travelwise.org.nz/utp/

Well we have been shafted totally. In the two documents there is no mention of any stratetgies relating to motorcycling at all - despite my personal communication with several of the figures involved at a senior level, at ARTA and AUT.
The only mention of motorbikes at all is in relation to the number of staff (0%) and students (2%) who use motorbikes to commute. As is well known to the authors of the report, both of these figs. are extremely inaccurate, and it seems no revision (as promised) was taken into account after more motorbikers completed the survey in the later stages of data collection.


I am thinking of putting together some form of representation to discuss our issues on this directly with ARTA/AUT/UoA.

As some of you will know, I am an AUT professor, so I have some degree of access to the relevant people. Might need to collect some form of petition (boring, I know, but always carries some weight). I might need help collecting this if this was something we did.

Any ideas?

[motorbyclist]

unless you can get one of those beurocrats to actually ride a bike they will never bother to consider us - otherwise it wouldn't be a proper buerocracy now would it?

what'll happen is that as petrol prices continue to increase bikes/scooters will become ever more common and all the footpaths around there will be packed with bikes. then and only then will they bother to act, and they'll probably just ticket us or something equally retarded

[Squiggles]

i've skim read their reports and note that we're classed under the "cyclists" but only really referred to under "Travel Plan Actions" for "Cyclists" in regards to a future? review of motorcycle parking.... disappointing, we're growing by the day and for many its a cheaper alternative than catching the bus, parking is at capacity, doesnt seem like something to ignore when you look down symonds st...

Although not officially affiliated with the UoA the Uni Bike Club now has around 100 official members (official means they've paid their $3 lol...)

As the new Prez i'd like to get involved in anything you have in mind, may be useful to try and push our own plans to for some form of security (at 2 bikes stolen within the last 2 weeks, another attempted steal in broad daylight today, uni has stepped up with the secure pushbike parking...)

[motorbyclist]

what happened today?

[90s]

i've skim read their reports and note that we're classed under the "cyclists" but only really referred to under "Travel Plan Actions" for "Cyclists" in regards to a future? review of motorcycle parking.... disappointing, we're growing by the day and for many its a cheaper alternative than catching the bus, parking is at capacity, doesnt seem like something to ignore when you look down symonds st...

Although not officially affiliated with the UoA the Uni Bike Club now has around 100 official members (official means they've paid their $3 lol...)

As the new Prez i'd like to get involved in anything you have in mind, may be useful to try and push our own plans to for some form of security (at 2 bikes stolen within the last 2 weeks, another attempted steal in broad daylight today, uni has stepped up with the secure pushbike parking...)

Thanks Squigles, I'll talk to ARTA first and then think about what to do. I note on the "ticekts on footpaths" thread in >Politics and Law BRONZ need some support to back up their letter, so maybe you can see what Ixion is up to and we can join-up-the-dots.

[90s]

what happened today?

erm, can you be a little more specific?

[motorbyclist]

erm, can you be a little more specific?


another attempted steal in broad daylight today



as a side note, yesterday i parked on a footpath in central henderson and the warden walking past said i was sweet, so i don't see how symonds street is any different

[90s]

OK all, AUT update, specifically for the business school (WF) building.

Negotiations etc are still underway for long-term bike parking solutions for the Univeristy, but in the meantime bikes and scooters are still using the space outside the business school building.

Keeping this in order is crucial to us being allowed some parking at this facility longterm. Currently common sense rules are in place - do NOT:

- ride across the pedestrian area of the cafe front
- park obsructing the main glass entrance-way and fire-access station
- park obstructing clear access to the benched area for pedestrians
- box other bikes in
- park on the pevement area obstructing the way around the building and getting us a bad rep

DO

- park neatly along the 'back wall' area in one neat line
- park well to the right side (from road) of the larger area away from the benches
- be considerate to other uses
- tell people to self-police this system
- find alterate parking - ie. the Civic, the Library, St Paul st, if the area is packed

I am giving tickets out to bikes that contravene these rules, and taking photos of the offenders and keeping a log.
I am also putting every so often a reminder of these principles to the bikes parked.

I need you all to spread this message to ensure that parking continues to be offered here and better solutions are provided to us.

The University is private property and you have no right to park here other than the current arrangement I have brokered that allows us to us this space whilst negotitations are proceeding at the highlest levels. In the meantime I will take a very dim view of anyone that lowers our collective chance of continiuning to use this space through stupidity or selfishness.