NOT-SO-URGENT URGENCY
Strategy, which he details, is (most laudably) hell-bent on reducing carbon emissions in its fight against climate change. In doing so, it wants to reduce vehicle use dramatically throughout the city, and encouraging use of public transport alternatives to get around.
One way is by reducing kerbside parking availability, so fewer people will be able to freely use cars. Butwhat if those cars are EVS – electric vehicles? Few in number at present, but being heavily subsidised by the
Government to encourage faster take-up, they will ultimately reduce the emissions problem, as they become more predominant on our roads.
Where are they going to park? Their owners’ penalised equally, even though they’re doing the right thing. This is ‘‘Unintended Consequence’’ number one.
‘‘Unintended consequence’’ number two will be charging for park-and-ride parking – not a new idea, but not a good one either. ‘‘You want me to keep on using public transport to commute each day? So don’t penalise me – incentiviseme!’’ Free parking did that. How about free park-and-ride parking if you’re driving an EV? Better still, how about free public transport everywhere – for everyone?
Thinking ahead, clearly and intelligently, will produce significantlymore tangible results faster. However, this kind of thinking is all too often sadly lacking within our bureaucracy, both local and nationwide. As evidenced by these latest Auckland Transport decisions – guaranteed to eventually result in failure of intent, through these ‘‘Unintended Consequences’’. Which should be obvious to them right now.
Clyde Scott, Birkenhead
A few years ago there were extensive road works at the intersection ofhwy 16 and the Coatesville-riverhead Hwy and everybody thought, ‘‘thank goodness, they’re putting in a roundabout – about time.’’ But no, the result was an expensive makeover – the intersection was the same but it looked prettier.
Phelan Pirrie’s frustration at the delayed design of a roundabout is not surprising ( Nor-west News, March 31).
‘‘We understand the importance of this roundabout, which is why we’re progressing the design with urgency’’, says the NZ Transport Agency. The agency ‘‘expects to lodge a resource consent application late this year’’. This is urgency?
Annemartin, Helensville