Skipping To Auckland , and saving $150 million !
In the morning , I'm on the 6.30am Skip bus to Auckland . A lot of people are still on holiday , so it will be interesting to see how many people are on it . It gets to Sky City Auckland by 8.30 . Cost $11 incl booking fee and credit card fee .
At 5.30pm , I'm coming back , also on Skip -- get back 7.30pm . Another $11 .
I don't actually have much to do in Auckland , but I have a cunning plan . So I want to see what the bus service is like , and arguably I should have waited a couple of weeks , until most commuters are back at work .
See -- I have a plan . It appears a crowd funded commuter bus service could be operational , with all the NZTA legal requirements , within 3 months .
On-line ticketing would take a bit of effort from the boffins . Registration with NZTA seems logical if you follow their guidelines , don't cut corners . It appears you don't even need to file any planned routes or anything -- you do if you are wanting to operate Urban ( subsidised ) services . You would want to ask permission to use bus stops , but if King Andrew says No , as they are public places and publicly funded , it appears they can't stop you . The Transport Centre is slightly different -- even though it is publicly funded and a public place , it does have different rules .
Even the buses themselves aren't a huge problem -- you want nice , and a bit of room . I don't think you want 55 seater coaches initially -- in my head , I reckon 2 x 25 seaters ( 15 year old ones seem to be around $50K ) and 2 long wheelbase , high roof vans , like Transits or Hi Aces -- around $25-30 k each .
Anyway , anyone interested , I'll do some updates , and I reckon that collectively a few people can put together something that will cover costs and maybe make a return , probably work in with Skip timetables to get 2 or 3 buses a day each way .
By the way , I don't work in Auckland , I don't want to be a huge spoiler , but by a few people using a few brains , we can completely show up the 'backers' ( local and Govt politicians , and NZTA ) of the $120-150 million dollar train drain .
Poll: Do you think a partial demolition is the right call?
One of the most recognisable buildings at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls could be demolished, except for part of the façade.
The school is asking for resource consent to knock down most of the earthquake-prone Cherrington House as part of plans to build a larger, safer administration block.
Do you think a partial demolition is the right call? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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33.3% Yes
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23.8% Not sure
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42.9% No
Poll: Would you like to do this?
The opportunity to www.waikatotimes.co.nz...
|get up close to an 11-month-old tiger cub|, a porcupine, a tuatara or the siamangs could be the perfect Christmas stocking fillers.
The Hamilton Zoo already offers encounters with macaws, tigers, ring-tailed lemurs and rhinos, however soon the others will be on offer.
Would you like to do this? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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75% Yes
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25% Maybe
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0% No
Poll: Have you ever had someone steal your fruit or veg?
Greedy thieves have plundered a Hamilton community garden leaving angry growers without their own spuds to boil on Christmas Day.
Two women laden with produce from “all over the garden” were confronted last week by Fairfield Project gardens co-ordinator Graeme Richer.
Have you ever had someone steal your fruit or veg? Tell us about it in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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47.1% Yes
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52.9% No
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