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

[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 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.