I would love to have a few more details on the "roading lobby" who are repeatedly referred to - who its members are, and to what extent it is formally constituted.

I would also love to know what organisations are public transport advocates.

Traditionally an expose such as this ends with a call to arms, and I'm hanging out for it.

Hi,

Pro roading lobbyists include the Road Transport Forum, who represent truckies, and as a more extreme example, the Highway Action Trust. The later is a good example of the sorts of mysterious organisations that appear just before elections, attempting to sway voters. Remember those pullout supplements along the lines of "complete the motorway network" before the last local elections? - that's the work of your pro-roading lobby groups.

( By the way, there ain't no city in the world completing motorway plans drawn up in 1953.)

Other groups, notably the NZ Council for Infrastructure Development , are funded by organisations such as Maquarie Bank, Beca, Fulton Hogan etc in whose interest it is to see more spending on transport infrastructure. Not quite sure why Auckland City and ARTA feel the need to be paid up members ($9,000 p.a.) as well. Maybe this is a good thing as NZCID's attitude to public transport and alteratives to roading has improved recently.

As far as public transport advocates there is the totally without budget, voluntary, politically independent Campaign for Better Transport; other alternatives are Cycle Action Auckland and Walk Auckland

Finally there is ARTA, whose job it is to plan and operate our public transport system in Auckland.

Cheers
Cameron Pitches
Convenor
Campaign for Better Transport
www.getmoving.org.nz

Brilliant stuff! Take a bow Michael Tritt.

Why don't we finish this freaking motorway instead of the half loop we're getting now. Funny how the poor folks in Mt Roskill will get their side of the loop rumbling thru but the rich folks in Kohi can stop theirs?

No not funny really.

I've travelled extensively and marvelled at the various public transport systems I've been able to use. On the other hand, Auckland public transport is CRAP. And so is our motorway system: ONE motorway dissecting the city? So if something goes wrong the whole city stops and no-one can go anywhere.

The problem is the beareucrats running the show have no basis in reality. Who was the smartiepants who sold off the Newmarket railway land so that there is no no room for an interchange?

Auckland already has an extensive motorway network for a city of its size.

We shouldn't even consider providing additional motorway routes around Auckland until we have sorted out the embarrassing PT shambles we presently have.

To quote Dr. Jeff Kenworthy, "How much freeway does a city need?
- As much as it already has, certainly no more and probably a good deal less."

M.

Yeah, right.

So how do I get to Howick from Pt Chev using PT? ... In a timely manner?

To quote Dr. Jeff Foxworthy, "Luddites go home"

Howick to Pt. Chev is 1 hr 21 minutes, on 2 buses, at a cost of $9.70.

Yes, that is ridiculous. Bus priority measures etc could certainly help reduce that.

BUT the more pertinent question is - if someone, say, works in Pt. Chev and chooses to live in Howick - why should their fellow Aucklanders fund motorway building, and degrade their city, to facilitate this long-distance travel habit?

Strange things happen in cities that stop building motorways. People actually start to locate closer to where they need to travel.

Strange things happen in cities that stop building motorways. People actually start to locate closer to where they need to travel.

this also stimulates small business near where they work/live (as opposed to huge strip malls), decreases the amount of oil we import, leads to this weird thing called 'community', and reduces stress for commuters.

the other day i heard someone on nat.radio complaining about the drive from albany to auckland in rush hour ("but i needed to get to work!!"). this type of idiot is a case in point.

oh, and michael, how far away are part 4/5! can't wait!!

was also thinking that i might see if we can't find someone to screen this doco here in wellington. the city council is currently car-mad.

Howick to Pt. Chev is 1 hr 21 minutes, on 2 buses, at a cost of $9.70

That presumes the buses connect on time and you're not waiting around; which you invariably do. It's a 2 hour trip, but only if Jesus is your bus driver.

BUT the more pertinent question is - if someone, say, works in Pt. Chev and chooses to live in Howick - why should their fellow Aucklanders fund motorway building, and degrade their city, to facilitate this long-distance travel habit?

I don't drive to Taupo either so why should I pay for a State Highway? Let's toll that and make the users pay?

Last year one of the lefties on council was bitching in the Herald about old ppl complaining about rates. She proudly explained how her parents had shifted out of their Mission Bay home and moved to somewhere smaller, out of Auckland City, where the rates were cheaper.

What's my point? None really (just having a dig at at socialist councillors who have no qualms about financially punishing the pensioners). But my elderly pensioner parents do live in Howick, and enjoy my visits.

... and BTW I'm all in favour of a PT levy on petrol; seems easier than microchipping cars and 'tolling' them at various times of the day for various areas. Of course, once we've microchipped all the cars we can 'fine' them instantly because the computer will confirm that they travelled from Tranponder A to Transponder B in excess of the legal speed limit ...

Thanks Che,

I've used the deliberately ambiguous phrase "coming soon" to describe the arrival time of episodes 4 and 5...I'm thinking 4 - 8 weeks for both, but that will depend on how much spare time I can find!

It'd be great for it to be shown in Wellington, as many of the issues covered are also relevant to Welly (e.g. why expected time travel savings from motorway improvements don't actually materialise...).

I see your Regional Transport Strategy allocates some 90% of the funding to roads - that is a shocker. If you or anyone else would like a DVD copy, just let me know and I'll get one in the post.

M.

michael. absolutely. if you're happy for the DVD to be shown in a public setting i'd be happy to try set up some showing (somewhere...).

it occurred to me after writing a previous comment that i don't need to be fight PT battles in auckland. we have our own here!!

For those interested there is a petition to electrify the Auckland network due to be presented prior to this years budget:
http://www.getmoving.org.nz/electrifynow.php