I particularly liked one of the reasons given by WK for abandoning the idea
Apparently because the bridge is so steep bicycles might go too fast and cause a hazard to other users
I kid you not, they are happy for bicycles to ride along the shoulder of the 110kph Waikato expressway but a bike going down the bridge is too fucking scary
These arses can’t even come up with a good excuse to ban the bikes
One hundred percent with you. What in the name of goodness and decency and the environment and everything else we aspire to were Waka Kotahi thinking when they made that statement? Is it one fossil fool in that organisation or a whole lot of them? And who are they? Utterly ridiculous announcement.
Along with a dearth of research, I reckon there is a lack of conceptual design skill at Waka Kotahi - too many risk-averse engineers and no creative innovators.
My OIA requests have revealed internal WK communications expressing concern that cyclists will startle the horses of the coaches using the bridge. Talk about blinkered, indeed.
A-fucking-men to this. And BTW thank you for pointing out the absurd number of very highly paid staff at Waka Kotahi. I was dumbfounded when I first counted them up.
On a serious note, I wonder whether by ruling out a trial for fear of creating unrealistic expectations I wonder if WK has just exposed itself to an administrative law issue and potential action. (OTOH these guys would happily spend millions fighting in the courts rather than changing anything).
If a Cabinet Minister were to set up a Bike Taskforce to stick viable cycle transport on every city road in Aotearoa that would be a fine thing. - Sharon
I am starting to find your one-eyed attitude to cycling and walking as the solution to Auckland's transport woes a bit over the top and tiresome, I am 74 with heart and lung issues, my wife is 84 and can hardly walk any more,so there is no way we will be cycling/walking or taking a day long public transport solution to shop etc. Your columns appear to ignore anyone over (25, random age) and fit, wearing Lycra, why is that? Surely a more balanced column would consider all those that cannot be part of your ideal model?
You are missing a really key point. If a bunch of us (4 years from open heart surgery post chemo) can and want to get on a bike or e-bike - then there is so much more space for you to drive.
It isn’t about Lycra wearing blokes it’s about normal folks getting on an e-bike (because my heart surgeon said I had to) and not have to be terrified of someone making a mistake in their SUV and killing me.
I'm advocating for one lane, not the whole bridge. I'm asking for the means to ride for those of us who want to do so, I'm not in any way advocating compulsion. I really thought I had made that very clear but perhaps I have not. I will not be shifting from this position because I consider it to be entirely reasonable. ( Also I am 62 and have two heart attacks behind me. I have no lycra, and when we bike we wear the clothes we will be wearing inside when we get there)
Don't worry - it won't be compulsory. Just as you want options that suit you, walkers and cyclists want options that suit them (and protect our environment).
Are you only sixty-two. I'm much older and as I type this it's 29 degrees and I have been biking to the spiaggia every day for the past seven in shorts and jandals and no helmet
Assuming you are not tongue in cheek ADL- I feel obliged to respond and say MTAF actually provides some down to earth balance to the Waka K output. Their top dogs' REM package will include a self drive family car. And of course they see the world from that car window. The benefits of riding a bike over the Bridge and the freeing up of the City and suburban sprawl from the motor car would benefit, indirectly, even the less physically able. This was proven during the kiwi level 4 lockdown. Many of the people pictured in the overseas photos seem to be 25 plus and there's bugger all lycra in evidence.
I'm 75, housebound, wheelchair, long term M.E. - no way I can bike! But I would if I could. And just because I can't do something, doesn't mean I don't want people who can to not do it either. It's about the planet, in the final analysis, not just me and my disability parking card.
Do Whaka Kotahi (deliberately inserted 'h' for desired phonetic effect) get Luxon to write this shit of thiers?
"Waka Kotahi is strongly committed to providing a safe network for walking and cycling in the Auckland region, integrated with public transport, to support a shift to active and shared modes with better climate outcomes."
What the fuck do they think it is that they are doing which controls our weather, going forward?
In Nelson and Richmond at present a bike is the best form of transport. With road closures all over the place it is traffic chaos and the bike lane is proving it’s worth. And not only is the Brooklyn Bridge outstanding but every year when my daughter lived in New York they closed a major thoroughfare for a day (it may have been Park Ave). It was fabulous.
I particularly liked one of the reasons given by WK for abandoning the idea
Apparently because the bridge is so steep bicycles might go too fast and cause a hazard to other users
I kid you not, they are happy for bicycles to ride along the shoulder of the 110kph Waikato expressway but a bike going down the bridge is too fucking scary
These arses can’t even come up with a good excuse to ban the bikes
Driving back from Cambridge yesterday I did a double take when I saw a cyclist doing just that. Not in a million years for me.
One hundred percent with you. What in the name of goodness and decency and the environment and everything else we aspire to were Waka Kotahi thinking when they made that statement? Is it one fossil fool in that organisation or a whole lot of them? And who are they? Utterly ridiculous announcement.
A legal review has been requested. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473193/court-review-sought-on-auckland-harbour-bridge-cycle-lanes
Along with a dearth of research, I reckon there is a lack of conceptual design skill at Waka Kotahi - too many risk-averse engineers and no creative innovators.
My OIA requests have revealed internal WK communications expressing concern that cyclists will startle the horses of the coaches using the bridge. Talk about blinkered, indeed.
Delicious! Thank you Quentin :D
A-fucking-men to this. And BTW thank you for pointing out the absurd number of very highly paid staff at Waka Kotahi. I was dumbfounded when I first counted them up.
On a serious note, I wonder whether by ruling out a trial for fear of creating unrealistic expectations I wonder if WK has just exposed itself to an administrative law issue and potential action. (OTOH these guys would happily spend millions fighting in the courts rather than changing anything).
Signed, Seething of Devonport
If a Cabinet Minister were to set up a Bike Taskforce to stick viable cycle transport on every city road in Aotearoa that would be a fine thing. - Sharon
Their justifications for 'No' have a 'dog ate my homework' feel
I am starting to find your one-eyed attitude to cycling and walking as the solution to Auckland's transport woes a bit over the top and tiresome, I am 74 with heart and lung issues, my wife is 84 and can hardly walk any more,so there is no way we will be cycling/walking or taking a day long public transport solution to shop etc. Your columns appear to ignore anyone over (25, random age) and fit, wearing Lycra, why is that? Surely a more balanced column would consider all those that cannot be part of your ideal model?
You are missing a really key point. If a bunch of us (4 years from open heart surgery post chemo) can and want to get on a bike or e-bike - then there is so much more space for you to drive.
It isn’t about Lycra wearing blokes it’s about normal folks getting on an e-bike (because my heart surgeon said I had to) and not have to be terrified of someone making a mistake in their SUV and killing me.
One other thing you haven't considered is that in ten years there will be twice as many of us old farts on bikes and walking,
So no age concern? No balance Concern? No Dimentia concerns? You obviously aren't in the group I am talking about
I'm advocating for one lane, not the whole bridge. I'm asking for the means to ride for those of us who want to do so, I'm not in any way advocating compulsion. I really thought I had made that very clear but perhaps I have not. I will not be shifting from this position because I consider it to be entirely reasonable. ( Also I am 62 and have two heart attacks behind me. I have no lycra, and when we bike we wear the clothes we will be wearing inside when we get there)
That is a fair point, however, I have to stick by my comment that cycling and walking as well as public transport does not work for all.
Don't worry - it won't be compulsory. Just as you want options that suit you, walkers and cyclists want options that suit them (and protect our environment).
I have no issue with that, my question is what about the rest of us?
Rubbish
Are you only sixty-two. I'm much older and as I type this it's 29 degrees and I have been biking to the spiaggia every day for the past seven in shorts and jandals and no helmet
Assuming you are not tongue in cheek ADL- I feel obliged to respond and say MTAF actually provides some down to earth balance to the Waka K output. Their top dogs' REM package will include a self drive family car. And of course they see the world from that car window. The benefits of riding a bike over the Bridge and the freeing up of the City and suburban sprawl from the motor car would benefit, indirectly, even the less physically able. This was proven during the kiwi level 4 lockdown. Many of the people pictured in the overseas photos seem to be 25 plus and there's bugger all lycra in evidence.
I'm 75, housebound, wheelchair, long term M.E. - no way I can bike! But I would if I could. And just because I can't do something, doesn't mean I don't want people who can to not do it either. It's about the planet, in the final analysis, not just me and my disability parking card.
Biking on the harbour bridge. Do we have an Abundance of Caution problem here?
More an Abundance of overpaid Fuckwittery
I'm dumbfounded. WTF WK?
Where is the Minister in all of this?
Do Whaka Kotahi (deliberately inserted 'h' for desired phonetic effect) get Luxon to write this shit of thiers?
"Waka Kotahi is strongly committed to providing a safe network for walking and cycling in the Auckland region, integrated with public transport, to support a shift to active and shared modes with better climate outcomes."
What the fuck do they think it is that they are doing which controls our weather, going forward?
As the roading MINISTER Woods, supported a trial, can he terminate some of these who are stalĺing natural progress of this deserving change ?
Absolutely! Sooner rather than later would be good!
In Nelson and Richmond at present a bike is the best form of transport. With road closures all over the place it is traffic chaos and the bike lane is proving it’s worth. And not only is the Brooklyn Bridge outstanding but every year when my daughter lived in New York they closed a major thoroughfare for a day (it may have been Park Ave). It was fabulous.
They have caved in to bullying. The end....which is what happens when you cave in to bullies.