Bus moved on to boost weekend street safety
Booze-fuelled scuffles and disorderly behaviour have prompted Hamilton city authorities to shift a CBD bus stop used by the Night Rider service.
Police and council authorities resolved to move the Victoria St stop, which was stationed outside Coyotes Bar, in a bid to ease weekend congestion.
Inspector Karen Henrikson, of the Hamilton police, said the location of the bus stop – in the heart of the entertainment precinct – had caused problems.
‘‘From a policing point of view, when the bars closed there was an influx of people that came out onto the footpath, and with a big bus there it impedes pedestrian flow and line of sight for police observing crowd behaviour.‘‘
Ms Henrikson said the confined space, combined with alcohol and high pedestrian volumes was a ‘‘catalyst’’ for disorderly behaviour.
‘‘It only takes one person to nudge into another person and it can be a catalyst for a fight or further violence.’’
The new bus stop, just south of Hood St, ‘‘thinned out’’ crowds outside bars by encouraging people to walk away from the main bar precinct, Ms Henrickson said.
Hamilton City Council city transportation manager Phil Consedine said part of the decision was alcohol management, but more generally it was about keeping the peace.
‘‘Moving the bus stop was seen as a relatively easy and productive opportunity to ease these tensions and relieve a congested area.’’
John Lawrenson, from the Lawrenson Group, which owns several inner-city bars, including Bar 101 which is opposite the old site, said the decision was a ‘‘good move’’.
It increased safety and was practical.
There had been the ‘‘odd issue’’ after 3am in the past. However, he said scuffles were relatively rare.
‘‘From a safety standpoint, [it is] more the sheer volume of people.
‘‘There’s so many people moving around, it’s a high traffic area, you’ve got cars and taxis going through at that time.’’
Although it is used as a Night Rider stop between 8pm and 8am, the new pickup point reverted back to car parking during the day.
Night Rider is a joint initiative established in 2008 between the Hamilton City Council, City Safe, Waikato Regional Council and police, which services suburbs after midnight. ‘‘Moving the bus stop was seen as a relatively easy and productive opportunity to ease these tensions and relieve a congested area.’’