Comments on: Minding Your Bus Manners In Wellington (Photos)

By: Greg Bodnar

Greg Bodnar — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:03:18 +0000

@Brent C
In an idealised world, I could see value in your proposition of using the Quays. However, Wellington has continually failed to reduce vehicle traffic along the Quays and I fail to see routing buses there being safe enough – mostly in terms of crossing to the southbound side in decent time – for continued bus patronage. Driver expectations in NZ seem to be contrary to making changes for the sake of PT.

The long goal is for light rail along the golden mile. I would expect 5-7 minute intervals, which strikes me as much less disruptive along the Golden Mile as our current slew of buses. While I don’t consider buses through the mall to be a backward step, I’m hoping for a giant leap forward with light rail. I wouldn’t want to waste the chance by settling for a Quays compromise.

By: Brent C

Brent C — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:46:47 +0000

@Greg Bodnar
Buses would run a lot faster and more efficenty if they ran on dedicated bus lanes along the Quays, not through pedestrian malls. The short walk to the Quays would not put people off using the service and the improved efficency of the bus service will make up for that.

By: Greg Bodnar

Greg Bodnar — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:37:49 +0000

@Brent C,
It’s easy to question the timing that will be saved from the realignment, but my empirical view, based on daily peak-hour travel along the Golden Mile, is that Mercer Street causes the worst variable delay – as much as 3 minutes of just queuing to get between ANZ on Lambton Quay and the lower Cuba stop. (It’s often faster to get off at Willis and walk to Courtenay Place than to stay on the bus.)

However, the real advantage will be the decision to proceed with light rail. The density to justify it already exists, we’re just missing political will and mindset.

By: George Darroch

George Darroch — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:31:28 +0000

Bret, you’re arguing that it was a successful space. Maybe Cuba sets the standards high, but it never felt properly that way.

By: Brent C

Brent C — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:20:21 +0000

This is a sad story of bad decision making. Why would they remove a successful public space to ram buses through? Replacing pedestrian streets shouldn’t be the priority, they should be developing more.

“the single most significant change we could make to improve the reliability of bus services through the central city – now and in the future.”

This isn’t going to make buses run any better than they did before. They are going through a central business district! I’m guessing they will save possibly 30seconds from this development. The only effect it will have is on the environment, with the removal of public space.

There is an exciting mayoral race for Wellington next year with some forward thinking. Ideas such as pedestrianizing the many Wellington inner city streets, which is a breath of fresh air from current mayor Kerry.

By: Jon C

Jon C — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:11:04 +0000

Greg, thanks for your valuable local insight. Wellington is a beautiful city that gets things right that Auckland gets very wrong!

By: Greg Bodnar

Greg Bodnar — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:43:53 +0000

Nice to see your coverage of Wellington’s transport. There’s a lot going for it, but a lot of work that still needs to be done.

When I first saw the proposal for aligning the PT route through Manners Mall, I knew it was going to become a battle between pedestrians and transport supporters, who often are teamed up against rampant road expansion. The original proposal did nothing in terms of shared space – it was only from the submissions received that pedestrian concessions were made. Even now, I don’t think the current plan is perfect, but it’s certainly workable.

Wellington gets two Very Important things from this project: stronger connections into Civic Square and the waterfront; and a secured east-west alignment that can be used for light rail through Courtenay Place (and the hospital, maybe even the airport). However, while Wellington has nationally high PT patronage, several councilors refuse to see the city from any position except from behind their front bumper.

By: Jeremy Harris

Jeremy Harris — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:00:10 +0000

It’s a interesting one, if the council is prepared to replace the pedestrian street nearby (and even increase it from your description?) I don’t see the problem…