Tipping point for tall buses

Waiheke locals say vehicles brought in without notice too big for island’s roads

Waiheke locals are being driven crazy by the introduction of doubledecker buses on the island, saying the vehicles are dangerously clogging the roads.

Since the two-storey “hop on, hop off” buses were introduced in December last year, locals estimated about five have come off the road and others say it’s difficult to safely share the road when passing.

Bus company Fullers, which owns the buses, says the vehicles are legally compliant and no longer or wider than other urban buses and coaches on Waiheke. It says the vehicles are a good way to handle the island’s tourism needs.

Concerned local man Alan Knight said much of the community’s frustration came from feeling they had not been consulted before the buses were brought over.

The buses clogged the roads and annoyed full-time residents, he said.

“We understand there’s got to be a tourism industry.

“But the double-decker buses, the sudden introduction of them to the island with no consultation with the locals, has been a tipping point.

“Tipping point being the main word as they have tipped off the road into ditches on [several] occasions.”

The roads were too small for the buses and it was only a matter of time before “someone has to go home in an ambulance”, Knight said.

Waiheke local board chairman Paul Walden said a petition signed by more than 1000 locals had been handed to the board, which fully supported the campaign to get the buses removed.

“The buses are . . . not just presenting a risk to themselves but to other road users when they’re on a road where there’s just not enough room for two vehicles.”

Walden said he was concerned about what would happen with the heavy buses over winter, when the island’s many dirt roads became wet and muddy.

The board had spoken to Fullers’ chief executive Douglas Hudson about the buses.

“They need to [consider] whether this is in their best commercial interest to keep running their business given such widespread opposition in the community,” Walden said.

Hudson said the buses were an environmentally friendly solution to the increasing number of Waiheke visitors who expected quality service.

“Initially, we will reduce the frequency of service over the winter, and are looking into some possible changes to the route to minimise and mitigate some of the concerns raised.”

Hudson said a formal investigation was undertaken when buses crashed or went off the road and “any Waiheke residents say the two-storey buses have run off the roads many times already and are a danger to other road users. learnings are built into risk assessment procedures and training”.

Auckland Transport (AT) is undertaking a review of the tour routes after concerns were raised by some residents.

AT spokesman Mark Hannan said the review’s findings would be presented to the local board next week.

“If we find there is an issue we will report it to NZTA,” Hannan said. I always find using the parking kiosk difficult at the Auckland International airport when I pick my wife up from the Airport. On February 15 I used my credit card and the machine appeared to stall. The man on the help phone took ages to reply and sounded incredible bored. My plan B to use my bank card cleared ok. I find out a month later that the credit transaction did go through. So I paid twice. Just a question, when the ticket is paid does it not appear somewhere on the barcode? How does the exit barrier open when you depart? I’m completely stumped by these dumb terminals.

Andrew