tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post1883103814894839453..comments2024-03-05T08:45:33.095+13:00Comments on NZ In Tranzit: Major flaws seen in Christchurch Metro route change proposalDavid Welchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986414622432134057noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-6794535349439160532020-02-07T08:31:06.939+13:002020-02-07T08:31:06.939+13:00Damn, I find the metro less and less user friendly...Damn, I find the metro less and less user friendly. It's very frustrating to look for bus options and realize in most cases its (far) quicker to walk. If the metro doesn't fix the mess it continues to develop I don't see how it can expect to grow. Many people I talk to don't bus because they see it below them, they don't bus because the metro's routes and transfers mean they could be turning a relatively short trip into an hour+ ordeal (and that's if the busses actually show up even close to on time).<br /><br />I bike everywhere nowdays which is it's own fun due to the one way streets designed only for cars and drivers who think cyclists are vermin taking up precious space. Probably going to go back to cars in the near future after a few years of doing my best to be more eco-concious. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-43682630201544007692012-07-26T11:44:40.127+12:002012-07-26T11:44:40.127+12:00Re. additional funding for Metro I have suggested ...Re. additional funding for Metro I have suggested to Ecan sell the front of Metrocards as ad space. <br /><br />The MTA in New York City has announced they will do this and expect it will earn them siginificant revenue.<br /><br />Re. the Riccarton transfer area - yes, it is a disgrace and a safety hazard. What would government safety agencies make of it? People of all ages darting amongst busy traffic, not to mention the lack of adequate shelter.<br /><br />Ecan have kicked the date on creating a safe, decent transfer hub further away. This is not good enough and we should lobby them, the CCC and government safety agencies demaninding better NOW.Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-60220669427297512652012-07-21T18:31:05.825+12:002012-07-21T18:31:05.825+12:00It would be interesting if Ecan would publish deta...It would be interesting if Ecan would publish details of how much extra and emergency funding has been sought from the Government, CERA etc to maintain adequate public transport levels,and how much has been given. Measured against $30 billion in recovery (much of it of course funded from insurance, EQC, Council insurance we have paid for in premiums)or $2.5 billion in rail and busway infrastructure investment in Wellington and Auckland since 2000, the sums needed for a properly funded emergency plan for Christchurch public transport are only modest, just and an essential part of recovery. Without something adequate my guess is the city will not recover a proper metropolitan bus service for a decade, particularly given the huge damage to status and patronage likely from the currently proposed system. One only has to travel around the city to know every body's still here, every body is out there moving but Metro and the Council haven't committed the resources to find out where, and respond with the services people need. To me the proposals barely touch reorientation of the services to new work places, 90% is the same old stuff - but done twice as badly. The suggested extension The Comet service (as recently suggested) is a classic example, a very specific project that the Government should be asked to seed fund for five years as part of the rebuilt.David Welchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986414622432134057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-9862934884116103042012-07-21T12:11:39.442+12:002012-07-21T12:11:39.442+12:00Service cuts are service cuts how ever you dress t...Service cuts are service cuts how ever you dress them up. The question is if they hadn't turned some low use routes into feeders would those routes be cut all together to achieve the same cost saving? <br /><br />A contact at Ecan told me that the proposed 108 and 109 routes are actually meant to be shown as half hourly during the day, not hourly and it is a printing/proofing error.LX...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04050758042077373906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-53678147719635883062012-07-09T17:09:33.979+12:002012-07-09T17:09:33.979+12:00Hi Anonymous (No.820121229) - I find it very hard ...Hi Anonymous (No.820121229) - I find it very hard myself to understand why the route (17 on the Metro proposed changes brochure) running via Husseys Road and Willowbank is being given favour with (a) a through service to the city (b) 30 minute services at all times, yet is very peripheral to the main body of Northcote housing and completely misses industrial/office park areas in Cavendish Road, and also has lots of costly running through open country. Surely the democratic bias and cost effective option should be to offer maximum city direct/frequency to the greatest number of people. Adding an extra loop section into the (current)8 route -about 2-3 mins extra travelling time - through the Northcote area and then travelling back to Cavendish Rd, Regents Park and then back onto Main North Road and doing a loop through Northwood would probably only need one extra bus in the pattern. I don't mean to be mean to Willowbank etc (lovely place) but if there is not enough Metro money to go around then regular (minimum every 30 minutes!) access tofo schools,shopping, work etc from densely populated areas must take precedence over semi-rural areas. Why not just a flashing orange light signal on Styx Mill - "Slow buses exiting" - to allow greater ease of Northbound buses exiting Regents Park. The public transport system shouldn't have to jump through hoops or drive through huge expensive loops just cause the council doesn't do very much create effective bus corridors [watch the blog, for more on Northwood buses soon!!]David Welchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986414622432134057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-38351572097903731982012-07-08T12:29:33.464+12:002012-07-08T12:29:33.464+12:00I work at the Cavendish Business Park in Cavendish...I work at the Cavendish Business Park in Cavendish Rd, previously well served by the no.8 bus. Many people using this bus from Barrington Mall and points south would now have to take three buses to get to work--my guess is they will give up the bus as their preferred option, as travel could take up to an hour longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211616357616951025.post-20942474663734431602012-07-05T22:44:29.172+12:002012-07-05T22:44:29.172+12:00Thanks for this well thought out and informative p...Thanks for this well thought out and informative post. As you have pointed out in other posts, alternative transport options in Christchurch have received extremely low priority from the City Council over the years. I am waiting to see what further public reaction there will be to these proposals as the draft leaflet has only just been released. We need an effective transport lobby like CBT in Christchurch, an idea that has been growing on me for the past few months. When you refer to the lack of getting it together by Ecan and CCC - I feel most of that is CCC's fault - due to their huge conflict of interest in subsidising their rates with public transport funds from being a bus operator - and also their inevitable antagonism towards Ecan. Up until the earthquakes Ecan had done more than any predecessor to improve the quality and popularity of public transport in Christchurch. This is all going to be undone by the unelected unaccountable commissioners - reflecting the Government's overall intention of downgrading local government funding and provision of core public services.<br /><br />I'm writing a bit over at my own blog - <br />http://offwiththeirheadsnz.blogspot.co.nz/Kahukowhaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17459813822489143243noreply@blogger.com