Albany -> CBD in 15

[Mekk]

I'm interested in any opinions or experiences on the new two-way bus lanes between the North Shore and the city.

The papers are touting 15 minute commutes from Albany to the CBD. Can I get any confirmation of that from either side of the concrete barriers?

[rainman]

Haven't been on the new busway proper, but Albany Station to Britomart is usually closer to 25 mins. Could be 15 on a good day but don't they have more stations to stop at now? A bus leaves every 15 mins or so...

[sAsLEX]

Pushing that on a bike, and I don't sit in traffic at all, I call bullshit!

[bugjuice]

I was thinkin the same...

[swbarnett]

I've done it in 7mins in the cage (empty road, late at night, damn lucky not to get snapped). For a bus at legal speeds though I'd have to say not a change.

It's approximately 17km from Albany to the CBD. Average speed of 68kph non-stop. Even allow 1min stop at each station (when they're all finished) that's 17km in 11mins i.e. 92kph average. I'm guessing that buses don't exceed the speed limit (which is 80kph and 50kph through the stations).

[doozy]

I rode down the northern this morning ... didnt see a single bus in the busway thing ... but I did see one broken down on the bridge, on the clip on .... and when another bus came to pick up the passengers it parked paralell to the broken one completely blocking the first two lanes ... S is for smart:blink:

[ManDownUnder]

I'm interested in any opinions or experiences on the new two-way bus lanes between the North Shore and the city.

The papers are touting 15 minute commutes from Albany to the CBD. Can I get any confirmation of that from either side of the concrete barriers?

One question - what do the timetables say? I'd take that as the more accurate number. They must be published online surely (Too f'n lasy to look)

[Finn]

What about bridge traffic? That'll fuck em.

[Devil]

15 minute commutes from Albany to the CBD.

Thats a Tui ad if I ever saw one.

[Tank]

My son went on it the other day and said that it was about 17 mins.

So 15 may be a push but Im sure its not that far off. Bus was clean and he said it was a nice way to get to town.

If you cant take the bike - it sounds like a bloody good alternative to the cage.

[rainman]

In the news (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200802041108/bus_passengers_beat_motorists_to_city_on_new_buswa y) today:

"A Radio New Zealand reporter took 25 minutes to travel by bus from Constellation drive to reach the Britomart terminal in the CBD. Another reporter, who was commuting in a car, took 45 minutes to travel the same distance."

So, Albany to Britomart in 15 may be a stretch.

I also didn't see any buses using it this morning. Hardly saw any bikes either - thought you'd all gone and taken the bus!

[Finn]

My son went on it the other day and said that it was about 17 mins.

So 15 may be a push but Im sure its not that far off. Bus was clean and he said it was a nice way to get to town.

If you cant take the bike - it sounds like a bloody good alternative to the cage.

It only opened on Sunday.

[Tank]

It only opened on Sunday.

I thought that they had been using the 'top' part of it for a while and that it was just the final bit that opened Sunday?

[Dave Lobster]

It takes me 25 from Orewa to Fanshawe street on the bike, through the traffic, two up.

If a bus can do it that quickly, I'll be impressed.

[mynameis]

I'd say 15 minutes during off peak not peak times. (Constellation to Britomart) They'll still get stuck on the bridge. It would be awesome if they'd let us use those lanes too.

But my main problem with that is the fare, isn't it like close to $10 a day, $5 each way? That's a bit too much I reckon. :angry2:

[jrandom]

I do Devonport to Parnell (and vice versa) through rush hour each day in 20 minutes on Betty.

I can believe that a good traffic-free run from Albany into town on a bus would be pretty close to 15 minutes, but that'd be a theoretical lower limit, not the average trip time.

[skidMark]

I have been on it once, it was pretty quick it's not like i timed it though.

I actually question the legality of taking a motorbike down it...it has speed limit signs in there etc....

completely seperate from the rest of the motorway.

it says buses only, buyt if it's a bus lane it should allow bikes....

anybody know the deal there?

[Finn]

I actually question the legality of taking a motorbike down it...it has speed limit signs in there etc....

completely seperate from the rest of the motorway.

it says buses only, buyt if it's a bus lane it should allow bikes....

anybody know the deal there?

Try it Mark and let us know.

[vifferman]

it says buses only, buyt if it's a bus lane it should allow bikes....

anybody know the deal there?
Guess what? Not even all buses are allowed to use it - only "Maxx" buses. It's basically a private road just for them. Most of the time (even during the week) it's going to be unused, apart from 'rush' hours and the occasional bus during the day.

[skidMark]

Guess what? Not even all buses are allowed to use it - only "Maxx" buses. It's basically a private road just for them. Most of the time (even during the week) it's going to be unused, apart from 'rush' hours and the occasional bus during the day.


yeah but maxx is stagecoach..... and they do run other services also...would have thought better logic would be to widen the motorway...

i cant see maxx paying for this....so i assume the tax payer foots the bill for a multi million dollar private road and stations????

interesting.

[Dave Lobster]

Down most of the motorway there's a bike lane on the right hand side. I use it most days. Whether it's legal or not, I don't really care. It's the safest place to be, on a bike. The odd fine from an overly officious policeman is nothing compared to getting killed by some munter in a cage.

[HDTboy]

It's not legal, and it's fucking dodgy riding outside the righthand lane. When Joe Truckdriver realises he's coming up on that car in front far too quickly, and he's got traffic to his left, where do you think he's going to put his 30 tonne load? Do you think you'll be able to withstand the crushing forces of a fully laden truck when you're wedged between it and a concrete barrier? Or do you fancy your chances with a wire rope barrier better?
Using the runoff outside the righthand lane is rather stupid.

As for the original topic. I call bullshit.

[jrandom]

Down most of the motorway there's a bike lane on the right hand side. I use it most days. Whether it's legal or not, I don't really care. It's the safest place to be, on a bike. The odd fine from an overly officious policeman is nothing compared to getting killed by some munter in a cage.

Learn to filter properly.

[Dave Lobster]

It's not legal, and it's fucking dodgy riding outside the righthand lane. When Joe Truckdriver realises he's coming up on that car in front far too quickly, and he's got traffic to his left, where do you think he's going to put his 30 tonne load? Do you think you'll be able to withstand the crushing forces of a fully laden truck when you're wedged between it and a concrete barrier? .

You don't seriously think I'd do it when the traffic wasn't at a standstill, do you?

Seriously??

[jrandom]

You don't seriously think I'd do it when the traffic wasn't at a standstill, do you?

Seriously??

Like I said.

Learn to filter properly.

[Dave Lobster]

Like I said.

Learn to filter properly.

I can filter properly. I'm English.

[jrandom]

I can filter properly. I'm English.

Riding on either of the emergency shoulders isn't proper filtering.

[sAsLEX]

Riding on either of the emergency shoulders isn't proper filtering.

On one wheel giving the one finger salute to all whilst going at least 50kmhr faster than the rest of the traffic is!

[HDTboy]

You don't seriously think I'd do it when the traffic wasn't at a standstill, do you?

Seriously??

Two points:

Why bother when traffic is moving?
When did I say traffic was at a standstill?

[Ixion]

Actually, the illegality (or otherwise) of rising on the RIGHT hand "bit between the right hand lane and the barrier" is debateable.

The left hand shoulder is acually declared as a hard shoulder, for emergency stopping only.

But the bit of road between the white paint line to the right of the right hand lane, and the barrier isn't actually (normally) an anything.

It appears that the right hand lane, legally, continues right up to the barrier or the centre line (after all, when there's no barrier you don't have a central shoulder, do you). Transit paint that white line a few feet into the right hand lane, as a psychological thing for cagers, who apparently freak out if they have a concrete barrier as the right hand lane marker. Strange creatures cagers.

Anyway, as far as anyone can say, that bit is legally part of the right hand lane. So riding in it is just a normal overtaking manoeuvre.


Much of this info courtesy of Mr Drum. There was a thread where he and I discussed it a while ago, for those who wish to search for it.

And, no, I am not going to volunteer to be the test case. But if anyone does ever get pinged for it, they may wish to politely argue the case.

[Usarka]

I used an Auckland train today, first time in over a year. It broke down.

15 mins maybe on a perfect day, but average of 65 minutes.

[R6_kid]

On one wheel giving the one finger salute to all whilst going at least 50kmhr faster than the rest of the traffic is!

so an impromptu race from tristram ave to uni doesnt constitute proper filtering? :whistle:

[aroberts]

I tried a bus in the bus lane a few weeks ago. It took about 20-25 minutes and that was before the other stations were open so it only stopped at Constellation. So 15 minutes is not likely.

On bike lanes, I see there is an extra (narrow) lane painted between Northcote and Tristram heading North. They have just moved the lanes over for the roadworks, but they have left the white line on the rhs of lane 3 so right now it looks like a perfectly legal 1 metre wide lane. Perfect for bikes. I plan to use it. :yes:

[mynameis]

Interesting points made about the bit on the right hand side, I too have used that extra space on many occasions and went past many cop cars (From Albany to Town) and never got pulled over for it.

All I had in my mind was if I'd ever get pulled I'd honestly tell them I am much safer here than filtering and if they still fined me I'd cop it. I know most officers are reasonable and use their logic so they won't pull you, even if they did and you'd explain clearly they'd let you off but some would still fine you.

So I took the risk many times and used that extra bit, mind you it's a lot faster and feels like you have your own special "bus lane" lol.

How can you argue it is still part of the right hand lane when you're riding outside the defined white line??

[Swoop]

Riding on either of the emergency shoulders isn't proper filtering.
It is, however, a nice place to aquire a puncture...

[aroberts]

...How can you argue it is still part of the right hand lane when you're riding outside the defined white line??

The bit I was talking about actually has a separate white line to the right of the right hand lane. So right now (while the road works are underway) there are actually 4 (possibly legal?) lanes from Northcote to Tristram when heading north. The right most lane is just very narrow. But wide enough for a bike.

If I get pulled over I intend to take a photo of it. I can't see how I could lose. It is marked as a lane with white lines on each side.

[swbarnett]

If I get pulled over I intend to take a photo of it. I can't see how I could lose. It is marked as a lane with white lines on each side.
It's been shown before that if the signage contradicts the law you still get pinged (60kph sign in a 50kph area).

[swbarnett]

I timed my run from Constellation station to the CBD bus station this morning. On the GN it took me about 14 minutes with no interruptions (including traffic) and not sticking religously to the speed limit. I don't see how a bus travelling at no more than the speed limit and stopping at even one station could keep to 15minutes.

[mynameis]

The bit I was talking about actually has a separate white line to the right of the right hand lane. So right now (while the road works are underway) there are actually 4 (possibly legal?) lanes from Northcote to Tristram when heading north. The right most lane is just very narrow. But wide enough for a bike.

If I get pulled over I intend to take a photo of it. I can't see how I could lose. It is marked as a lane with white lines on each side.

Dude lol. Yeah I know what bit you're on about, that's just temporary though while they are changing lanes, shifting the white mark because of the new 3rd lane further down after Tristam Ave exit.

[Suney]

article in the paper today
http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/05busway-map.jpg

[aroberts]

Dude lol. Yeah I know what bit you're on about, that's just temporary though while they are changing lanes, shifting the white mark because of the new 3rd lane further down after Tristam Ave exit.

That is what I said: "So right now (while the road works are underway)".
But you are right about being more temporary than I thought cos they started blocking off some parts of it today.


I see there was more discussion in the paper about people wanting to open the bus way to high occupancy cars. If it does happen I hope they include bikes.

[Usarka]

article in the paper today
http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/05busway-map.jpg

Bahahahahaaa brilliant. auckland pubilc transport is fucking shit.

linky:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10490641

[Suney]

Bahahahahaaa brilliant. auckland pubilc transport is fucking shit.

linky:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10490641

oops sorry, i knew i forgot something :rolleyes:

[Mekk]

That is what I said: "So right now (while the road works are underway)".
But you are right about being more temporary than I thought cos they started blocking off some parts of it today.


I see there was more discussion in the paper about people wanting to open the bus way to high occupancy cars. If it does happen I hope they include bikes.

I'm not sure if I'd rather be in there dodging SUV soccer mums and buses or the general populace.

Besides, I'm sure they would rather promote less energy using vehicles as opposed to giving a special road to the guzzlers.

The other thing is that there are fuckloads of them, I'm sure it would clog.

[sAsLEX]

so an impromptu race from tristram ave to uni doesnt constitute proper filtering? :whistle:

What are you talking about? That sounds dangerous and immature.............. :rolleyes:

[mynameis]

Just a random thought, now that the new bus lanes are open what will they do with the existing ones? Going form Albany to Auckland, so tempted to use it :D haha.

Someone please do it ! :lol:

[Magua]

There aren't any? Just emergency shoulders I thought.

[mynameis]

There aren't any? Just emergency shoulders I thought.

Huh..na there still is, it's such a waste. Someone lend skidMark a shitter please. :lol: