Auckland traffic wtf how does one cope

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Auckland traffic wtf how does one cope

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124 posts

Master Geek

#1484018 3-Feb-2016 07:15

MikeB4:

I take back all I have ever said, I don't know how Aucklanders cope and not go postal. We are in Auckland on holiday, Whangaparaora to be exact and the traffic is insane. It took an eternity to go from Takapuna to Manly Beach mid afternoon.

Problem being, your staying in a very popular Aucklander holiday spot on a holiday weekend.

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shortcircuit

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Master Geek

#1484022 3-Feb-2016 07:34

People in Auckland leave work at 2pm ?

Yes, but I work from home and leave early to make up for time in 'traffic' between the study and coffee machine

lxsw20

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#1484061 3-Feb-2016 08:32

Benoire:

I have a nice fancy car in the drive but I can PT everywhere, easier, less stressful and during peak is just as slow until I get to the train station then its weee on a dedicated right of way. If you think Auckland driving is bad, try London... That is terrible, I used to spend hours moving at 2-3 mph.

Unless you really really needed your car in the city you would have to be a special kind of person to drive in London, especially when public transport is as good as it is.

t0ny

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#1484089 3-Feb-2016 08:41

Only way to live in Auckland is if you have flexible work hours. I start early and leave early :)

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#1484101 3-Feb-2016 08:53

I love Auckland traffic. So much better than Sydney, Melbourne, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur ...

xpd

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#1484102 3-Feb-2016 08:56

MikeB4:

I take back all I have ever said, I don't know how Aucklanders cope and not go postal. We are in Auckland on holiday, Whangaparaora to be exact and the traffic is insane. It took an eternity to go from Takapuna to Manly Beach mid afternoon.

I live in Whangaparaoa and travel to Takapuna every week day - via bus. Also saves on headache of trying to find a car park.

Hope you enjoy your time on the coast :)

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muppet

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#1484139 3-Feb-2016 09:15

You think to yourself "This is only temporary, I'm not going to get angry and this" then you sell up and move to Napier where it's always sunny and there's bugger all traffic.

SepticSceptic

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#1484143 3-Feb-2016 09:21

A couple of hours a day in mindful uninterrupted contemplation. Traffic is slow enough

trig42

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#1484155 3-Feb-2016 09:40

muppet:

You think to yourself "This is only temporary, I'm not going to get angry and this" then you sell up and move to Napier where it's always sunny and there's bugger all traffic.

Haha, funny you say that. We did exactly that about 9 years ago.

I found Napier traffic really frustrating (I had a job there which involved a lot of driving around Napier, Hastings, Havelock North). The traffic lights are really short phased, and people dawdle (both in town, and along the expressway and SH2 to and from Clive). Its no biggie, and certainly nothing on Auckland or Wellington, and there isn't really a rush hour, I just found it frustrating (Deep breaths fixed it and Napier is a lovely place to live).

We moved back to Auckland (well Waiheke actually) about 5 years ago, and, yes, Auckland traffic is much worse than Napier. I drive daily from downtown (ferry terminal) to the north shore (Tristram ave off ramp) and the drive to work is easy - in my car at 0745, at my desk before 0810 - so easy. Going home, on the other hand, I can leave my desk at 1645, and not get to the carpark until 1730 some days. It seems much worse this year - I don't know why (maybe cheaper petrol means more people driving?) 4 days out of five in the week will be congested. I have it luck with my commute though - some people here live as far south as Pukekohe - they can sometimes take nearly 2 hours to drive to work.

I do not think the answer is more roads (although, widening the motorway all the way from at least Papakura through to Albany to minimum of 3 lanes would be good, and the opening of the Waterview connection will take some pressure off SH1). I think the answer lies in Rail/Light Rail, including over to the shore - The Northern Express buses that use the busway alongside the motorways have taken off, and taken a lot of pressure off the bridge - those busways were designed with light rail in mind - build a tunnel for rail under the harbor, and get rail to the shore I say.

Journeyman

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#1484168 3-Feb-2016 09:55

MikeB4:
People in Auckland leave work at 2pm ?

Yes. Today I started at 5.45 and I finish at 2.15. Great for traffic.

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of starting at 8 and finishing at 4.30 :/

Geektastic

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#1484177 3-Feb-2016 10:05

joker97: I love Auckland traffic. So much better than Sydney, Melbourne, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur ...

I was reminded of the penalties for neglecting to pay the daily Congestion Charge in London too!

Geektastic

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#1484178 3-Feb-2016 10:06

Fred99:

Geektastic:

Apparently one had siblings called Chevy, Dodge and Corvette! I kid you not.

Naming kids after the place they were conceived is okay, I think.

LMAO!

Good job it wasn't Penistone in Yorkshire I suppose.

WyleECoyoteNZ

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#1484182 3-Feb-2016 10:09

MikeB4:
jeffnz:

seems like just another Auckland bashing thread. I moved here from Dunedin nearly 17 years ago and love the place you just need to use your head a bit more instead of getting all emotional about it.

I worked in Wellington many years ago for about 8 months whilst staying in Paraparam and the traffic was far worse than Auckland, case of people in glass houses etc etc. Never could understand one road in and out of there but its the way the city was built, not much different to Auckland really.

Then you get all the whingers about how a lot of money is spent on Auckland roading, never ceases really

Was not intended to be an Auckland bashing thread, the opposite in fact. It is clear to me that we should be supporting improving Aucklands transport infrastructure. The cost of downtime must be huge. There needs to be significant spending on the infrastructure.

Didn't the PM say the other week $2.5 Billion will be spent on Auckland's transport infrastructure? And I'm sure I read that this was 50/50 funding split between the Govt and Auckland council.

gjm

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Ultimate Geek

#1484188 3-Feb-2016 10:23

I ride a motorbike and feel sorry daily for all the people I pass in their cars. My commute is always 25 - 30mins each way everyday, regardless of the amount of traffic, parking is free and right beside work. I feel quite safe as most other cars are only going 20k p/hour anyway.

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trig42

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#1484189 3-Feb-2016 10:24

$2.5b is a drop in the bucket as to what is needed.

That $2.5b is for the CRL - a train tunnel in the central city that will double the amount of trains that can run into and through the city.

Another harbour crossing will cost upwards of $1-1.5b (more if it includes rail and road). Motorway widening, extending the motorway north of the Northern gateway tunnels are all major projects that will cost billlions also. Light Rail, and Rail/LR to the airport are being argued about now, and anything involving tracks and trains isn't cheap. The main thing that has held Auckland back, and will likely continue to, is the arguing and procrastinating over what needs to be done and how to pay for it. Subway plans were drawn up for Auckland back in the 50s. and no-one wanted to pay for them then - imagine how much more livable/easy to get around Auckland would be now if they had just built it.

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