Slower Car Traffic Around the city
I heard this podcast lately where NZTA (or Waka Kotahi) is stating car traffic is being slowed on purpose in order to "make it easier to get around"! ?! (See link below)
Personally, even if you agree or not with the purpose of such a policy, the way it's been implemented, i.e. without previous consultation, without publicity, and without alternatives - it appears to me that car commuters are treated like irresponsible children and not grown up adults.
It looks like the transport agency's role to make transport faster is being hijacked into changing the transport by making it SLOWER and yes, SAFER, with the declared purpose of "making it easier to get around". Of course, if your car is not moving you're perfectly safe!
I find this would work great in Europe, where I was able to use the EFFICIENT, FAST and PUNCTUAL public system to get around. But this infrastructure is NOT NEAR close enough to what's required as an alternative to using your vehicle in Auckland, as any trip by bus or train will usually take twice as long. Of Europe has a bigger economic capacity, and the reality in tiny NZ is the car is still reigning in most socio-economic communities as a main means of transport.
Such a policy would make sense if there would be an option in planning or building / execution, but in my view, there isn't a viable transport alternative yet in the works.
So, in my view, car commuter are left with is put up with more delays, frustration, time wasted, fuel burned in slower traffic as there's no alternative - in the name of a rushed ideology with no proper investment or planning. To poke a bit of sarcastic fun, it looks like a nanny state, where the nanny doesn't know what to do, but wishes to appear strong and confident...
I wonder if people find this decision although nice in it's intention, as completely missing the mark and not addressing the real issue of under investment in the public transport system.
It's timing might be right in 5 or 10 years from now when hopefully some of the much needed public infrastructure projects (electrification of the rail past Swanson, Airport train or light rail loop, etc) will be closed or near to completion. Until then, in my view, it's just another bit adding to people's frustration who have no alternative to commuting to work, shopping, transporting kids to/from events etc etc.
www.newstalkzb.co.nz...
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
-
82.7% Yes
-
14.7% No
-
2.6% Other - I'll share below
Move for Good! Peer fundraising to save rescued baby wild birds
BirdCare Aotearoa, NZ's largest wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre, is a special charity based in Waitākere, Auckland providing life-saving care to around 6,000 wild birds rescued by community members each year. Many of these patients are endangered native and endemic species. It’s currently baby bird season, and we urgently need to raise enough funds to cover the significant cost of the specialised care required for raising the thousands of orphaned and injured baby birds we receive in our dedicated nurseries during summertime.
As part of our current fundraising campaign, we have launched 'Move for Good', a peer fundraiser encouraging people of all ages to get out into nature and participate in an event (e.g. a walk, run, cycle or swim) or a hike, bushwalk, orienteering, or other fun outdoor activity (e.g. Birdie Bingo shown on our website) and invite friends and family to join or sponsor their challenge, to raise funds to help our hospital continue saving rescued baby birds.
Move for Good is proudly supported by Allbirds and Tree Adventures, and everyone who registers will go in the draw to win a pair of eco-friendly Allbirds sneakers or a Tree Adventures double pass.
We’ll give away a Give a Hoot tote bag from our Digitees store to the first five participants to complete a challenge before 22nd December.
Further details available in these links:
Givealittle page, for creating a Move for Good fundraising page or donating directly to our baby bird campaign - givealittle.co.nz...
Move for Good page on our website - birdcareaotearoa.org.nz... (contains a registration form for your challenge)
It will be absolutely wonderful if our neighbourhood communities would like to participate in our Move for Good campaign to save rescued baby birds!
Loading…
