Fifty Percent May Be Acceptable To You
Auckland’s Climate Action Framework – Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri is a very readable piece of work resulting from extensive public engagement, and covering a lot of topics. It’s time to make your submissions – they’re due Monday.
Auckland has had a Low Carbon Strategic Action Plan since 2014.…
144 Comments Doubts on Redoubt – Delusions and Solutions
Traffic in Auckland – no one loves it. Every objective we have for transport is hindered by the one common problem: we have too much traffic. It’s taking a toll on our health, and it’s keeping people stuck in congestion without transport options.…
Less Parking, Please
Parking is seen as a public good that should be supplied to everyone… Resistance to parking management is tied in a nostalgic way to “the good old days” and used as a form of coded language to complain about increases in population density or changes in community demographics or class structure.…
What’s More Stimulating than a Road?
Stephen Joyce tried to appeal to New Zealanders’ common sense in an opinion piece over the weekend:
It makes sense in a slowing economy to bring forward infrastructure investment to boost economic activity and protect jobs. You get the economic boost from the extra spend, plus something to show for it.…
The Road to Zero – Submissions Due Now
Submissions are due today at 5 pm for Road to Zero: A New Road Safety Strategy for NZ, which we posted about last month.
Here is the Ministry of Transport’s video about the strategy.
And their information, including summaries and how to submit is here.…
Regional Access
This is a post by Paul Callister and Heidi O’Callahan
Imagine a New Zealand where you can… knock off work and escape the city for a long weekend, without having to drive on dangerous roads, bleary-eyed from a week at work…
grow old in your hometown, knowing that even if you become too disabled to drive, heading to the nearest large centre for a doctor’s visit isn’t a transport hassle…
take the overnight train to Wellington for business, so you can stick to your no-flying commitments without it eating into your working week…
travel to regional tournaments safely by public transport (while teammates are still gaining experience as drivers)…
visit grandchildren in other regions travelling on high quality buses equipped with onboard toilets and fast wifi, enjoying vegan and gluten free options at refreshment stops…
have seamless door to door travel between cities and small towns using a mix of trains, buses and electric vehicles, with the help of accessible technology… This is the New Zealand we’ll enjoy if vague calls to “Take Action on the Climate” are heeded.…
Zero Carbon
Silver Pine*
Businesses in New Zealand compete on a playing field that undercharges for pollution and thus disadvantages low-carbon and environmentally-friendly practice. Similarly, business-as-usual mindsets hinder low-carbon and environmentally-friendly transport and land use plans. We need strong climate law to break through to progressive action.…
Auckland Transport’s Parking Nonsense
AT has created a storm that never needed to exist.
Ten years ago, Aucklanders understood the law. You could not park a car on a verge or footpath, and vehicle crossings were for crossing the footpath, not places to park. If you parked there for more than a minute or three, you’d be ready with an apology.…
Good Density
(Credit for above image: Point and Miller)
Promoting density is critical to avoid locking in sprawling, inefficient and climate-vulnerable modes of growth, but the kind of density matters. ‘Good density’ means functionally and socially mixed neighbourhoods with access to green spaces, comfortable, affordable, and climate-smart housing for all, and high-quality public transport networks.…
A History of Regional and Long-Distance Buses in New Zealand
This is a post by Paul Callister and Heidi O’Callahan. We also appreciate the contribution of key information on recent history of the sector from Greater Auckland reader ‘Kris’ Chris McKellar. While we’ve enjoyed reading widely to compile this information, and take responsibility for any errors, we look forward to learning more in the comments.…
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