More Transit discrimination against bikes. FIGHT BACK

[Ixion]

Hm. Interesting. the contact details came from
http://www.transit.govt.nz/news/Medi...aRelease-10559

But you can't access this through their web site any more, only by going direct to it.

Has Mr Spies pulled up his draw bridge?

In fact the page isn't available at all anymore. And Mr Spies is "out of the office" Indefinately!

Fortress Transit is locked down methinks.

However I have found a new name, Mr Peter Combs, who is Project manager for the Ramp Signalling thing.

He is also out the office, indefinately.

But, conveniently leaves his mobile number on his voicemail. Which is 0274443242.

I'll see if he answers that.

[terbang]

The fax went through..

[Drum]

So in fact this scheme has NEVER been tested in NZ? Despite which , they are proceeding with a full blown implementation?

Nope, never fully tested.

And not full blown installation. Installing it in tranches, with review at the end of a trial period for each Tranche.

[Grahameeboy]

As I said........The Mangere trial was not a fully installed system, and did not have the sensors in the motorway - so do not judge the finished system by the problems there. It was merely to determine the rate of red light running and wether the two lanes of traffic at the lights could merge safely.

Yeah what has happened to the iconic Kiwi saying "she'll be right".....and I thought POMs winged eh??

[terbang]

Hah My puter just SMS'd mr combs successfully.

[Grahameeboy]

Hm. Interesting. the contact details came from
http://www.transit.govt.nz/news/Medi...aRelease-10559

But you can't access this through their web site any more, only by going direct to it.

Has Mr Spies pulled up his draw bridge?

You probably have to pay a 'Toll' first.....

[Drum]

........However I have found a new name, Mr Peter Combs, who is Project manager for the Ramp Signalling thing....

Thats Peter McCombs.

Could also try:

richard.hancy@transit.govt.nz (transit regional manager)

or

stephen.hewett@beca.com (consultant to the project)

[slinky]

Just want to clear something up.
bikes are allowed to use transit/bus lanes in town? .... i.e. auckland city

[Ixion]

Allowed to use bus lanes in town (under control of LTSA). Not allowed to use ones on motorway (under control of Transit)

[terbang]

Yeah what has happened to the iconic Kiwi saying "she'll be right".....and I thought POMs winged eh??

Yeah right she'll be right. The issue Ixion has brought up here (and it doesn't look like a whinge to me) is the use of the priority lane for bikes, a very valid one. I don't think that anyone here has any problem with controlling entry to the motorways to prevent congestion. If Transit, or anyone else were really interested in helping reduce Aucklands congestion, then they would also consider promoting the use of motorcycles as personal transport. Think of the variance in parking issues between one person on a bike and one person in a SUV over a daily commute.
Protest may not achieve anything but apathy certainly achieves nothing.

[Ixion]

Thats Peter McCombs.

Could also try:

richard.hancy@transit.govt.nz (transit regional manager)

or

stephen.hewett@beca.com (consultant to the project)

Thanks for that. Emailed them, as well as Mr Spies and Mr McCombs . No bounces yet. But Mr Hancy has left transit (in April). His successor is Lee Higgins (presumably lee.higgins@transit.govt.nz, love email conventions) who helpfully also gives his phone number (09) 368-2004

[Ixion]

Yeah what has happened to the iconic Kiwi saying "she'll be right".....and I thought POMs winged eh??

You kmisquote the iconic saying. in full it is "she'll be right - because we'll PUT it right".

[Big Dave]

http://www.bronz.org.nz/action.html

give me some more emails to send it to.

[Ixion]

Just spoke to Mr McCombs. Who appeared a bit flustered, and wanted to know if I was "official". So i told him about BRONZ.

He was not openly anti. But not supportive. Typical bureaucrat.

But he mentioned that the question had already been raised by the police (!?? - Mr Bikiecop, you know anything ?)

And he replied to my email.

So there's a chink in the fortess walls.

His reply

Howard

Thanks for your note - the issue of whether or not motorcycles might also be included as a class of vehicles in the priority lane is a matter we will discuss with Land Transport NZ staff who are currently considering the matter.

Kind regards
p



Peter McCombs
Travel Demand Management
National Projects Director
Transit New Zealand

Tel +64 9 368 2029
or +64 4 569 8497
Mob +64 27 444 3242

So where do LTSA come into the picture. Who do we know at LTSA ?

[xwhatsit]

Hmm I got an email off to Mr Spies earlier on, haven't got a bounce so it seems I got there early enough.

Another point to mention, as a Mangere Bridge resident, is that not only is the traffic get banked up off the motorway, causing big queues behind the offramp, but this frequently disadvantages people who have nothing to do with the motorway. One problem in Mangere Bridge is that the traffic banks up so far that it ends up blocking off a roundabout. This is a huge pain in the arse for people who aren't even wanting to travel on the motorway, as it blocks off the main road of Mangere Bridge village, where the shops are. Kiwi drivers of course never leave gaps for side streets and the like so this causes major problems elsewhere.

Of course that's not the point we're arguing, we're arguing for bikes using priority lanes, not that the signalling be phased out entirely, but somebody might be able to spin this to our effect.

Another interesting point that was brought up early on; would you ever filter to the front of a ramp signal, as you would with traffic lights? One thing to notice is that the traffic lights have big signs saying `One vehicle per green'. There are two lanes, and two lights, so they want two vehicles. If you filtered, would you leave with the other two cars? You wouldn't want to block off another car, that would really piss them off.

One wonders if the ramp signalling idea is really just to shift congestion off Transit's roads, and onto somebody elses, making it somebody elses problem.