What moron at Unitec decided to stop Queen Street traffic at 9am

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robjg63

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#195244 12-Apr-2016 09:39

So wondered why traffic was snarled up even worse than usual around 9am this morning heading through Queen Street Auckland. There are major roadworks causing a fair few problems and of course there always a host of other unplanned things that can happen at peak traffic time.

After getting within eyesight of the traffic lights they are all flashing orange - wonderful the lights are out.

But wait - what is this? - I can see people taking photos of something - and what is that noise?

Oh - its Unitec labelled ute with Pacific Island drummers - followed by a large group of people in gowns.

Good one Unitec - arrange your graduation when you like - but decide to hold up traffic with a procession at 9am on a weekday morning in the CBD of Auckland it doesnt say much for the intellengence of your organisation.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

tardtasticx

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#1530518 12-Apr-2016 10:04

Lol salty much. Calm down. It was for all of half an hour and even then there were signs posted EVERYWHERE advising alternative routes. I was in the walk and had fun doing it, as did all my other friends and classmates who graduated.

Also I should add the police and fire service were involved. And the council would have approved the road closures as well. So are you saying all of those organisations are also stupid? I'm sure they'd have something else to say about that.

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#1530547 12-Apr-2016 10:41

Why on earth do they need to walk down a highway? When I graduated, convocation was held in the Great Hall and Lord Plumb DL came to hand out the bits and bobs - no need for walking down roads annoying everyone else. After all, we'd been annoying them with our student high jinks for three years before - why not give them a break?

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#1530548 12-Apr-2016 10:42

tardtasticx: Also I should add the police and fire service were involved. And the council would have approved the road closures as well. So are you saying all of those organisations are also stupid? I'm sure they'd have something else to say about that.

Yes, in general, it is "stupid" to schedule a road closure during peak traffic flows. Unitec may have been constrained to choose that time but I suspect that the people initiating the closure didn't really think about the flow-on effects.

Arguing over the stupidity of the other organisations involved just drags us further away from the issue. Somebody decided to schedule a road closure that would inconvenience a lot more people than if it had been delayed even half an hour. Other people approved that decision when there was probably a better option available.

I'm not in Auckland and I have no link to any of the organisations mentioned.

robjg63

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#1530553 12-Apr-2016 10:50

tardtasticx:
Also I should add the police and fire service were involved. And the council would have approved the road closures as well. So are you saying all of those organisations are also stupid? I'm sure they'd have something else to say about that.

Yup - They get an A+ grade for stupidity.

Any time from say 10am to 3pm would have hugely less potential impact than 9am on a weekday.

Even "Boobs on Bikes" had more consideration for Auckland traffic flow than Unitec.

Auckland Transport has been publicising the heck out of traffic disruptions due to road works for a few months now - hard to believe/understand they would have willingly added a non-essential item like this to the current issues.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

networkn

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#1530576 12-Apr-2016 11:03

tardtasticx: Lol salty much. Calm down. It was for all of half an hour and even then there were signs posted EVERYWHERE advising alternative routes. I was in the walk and had fun doing it, as did all my other friends and classmates who graduated.

Also I should add the police and fire service were involved. And the council would have approved the road closures as well. So are you saying all of those organisations are also stupid? I'm sure they'd have something else to say about that.

I don't think you understand how all of this works. JUST because the police and fire are there, doesn't make it a good idea. They are required to be present in certain situations.

Same with the Council. If it's not a legal issue, they won't block it, still doesn't make it sensible or smart, or considerate.

Perhaps when the shoe is on the other foot you might appreciate the situation a little more.

Glad it was fun for you, wasn't much for the rest of us.

tardtasticx

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#1530578 12-Apr-2016 11:09

Can't beleive so many people will be so nasty against new graduates. Auckland University and AUT both use the same route, blocking queen street for a half hour or so (going only in one direction I might add, most East bound traffic is fine).

I get maybe you were a little inconvenienced but that's life, graduations, parades and ceremonies happen and streets may be blocked with the huge amount of people. I just hope that if you ever have family or friends graduating you pass on your disapproval and protest the procession, make your disapproval well known because I'm certain they'll thank you for it :)

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BrentR

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#1530579 12-Apr-2016 11:12

No one is disputing that you shouldn't have a celebration of achievement, they are questioning (rightly so) the inconsiderate timing of it.

networkn

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#1530580 12-Apr-2016 11:12

tardtasticx: Can't beleive so many people will be so nasty against new graduates. Auckland University and AUT both use the same route, blocking queen street for a half hour or so (going only in one direction I might add, most East bound traffic is fine).

I get maybe you were a little inconvenienced but that's life, graduations, parades and ceremonies happen and streets may be blocked with the huge amount of people. I just hope that if you ever have family or friends graduating you pass on your disapproval and protest the procession, make your disapproval well known because I'm certain they'll thank you for it :)

Still failing to miss the point! It's not about the celebrations, which not one person here resents, but it's utter narcissism to use BUSY roads at PEAK times to have those celebrations. Like I said, wait till the shoe is on the other foot.

Also, no one is being nasty to the students, we are being CRITICAL of the people who arranged the celebrations at that time and place, when so many other times and places would have lesser impact on others.

Dairyxox

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#1530589 12-Apr-2016 11:42

Why do they need to block any streets anyway?...they've got a campus, use it.

E3xtc

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#1530668 12-Apr-2016 12:27

I hear footpaths work well for foot traffic too :\ I don't get closing roads so that people can protest/celebrate/etc on them - plenty of other places/ways...and yes I graduated too (in Auckland0, but still didn't feel the need to walk down the road :\

webwat

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#1533777 15-Apr-2016 22:06

tardtasticx: Can't beleive so many people will be so nasty against new graduates. Auckland University and AUT both use the same route, blocking queen street for a half hour or so (going only in one direction I might add, most East bound traffic is fine).

I get maybe you were a little inconvenienced but that's life, graduations, parades and ceremonies happen and streets may be blocked with the huge amount of people. I just hope that if you ever have family or friends graduating you pass on your disapproval and protest the procession, make your disapproval well known because I'm certain they'll thank you for it :)

Since the graduates made lots of people late to work, and blocked plenty of their customers from getting in before the procession, yeah! Stupidity no matter who has their procession at rush hour.

Time to find a new industry!

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Geektastic

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#1533784 15-Apr-2016 22:12

Worse than closing roads for blooming cycle races. That really ticks me off.

MikeAqua

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#1535509 19-Apr-2016 12:11

I think the bar for closure of or holding events on public roads is set way, way, way too low.

Roads are funded and built primarily for transport not public entertainment or racing.

Closing a road or staging an event on a road that slows/disrupts traffic shroud be an exceptional activity and there should be a few requirements: -

1) A very high public-benefit:public-inconvenience threshold.

2) The event couldn't reasonably be held elsewhere and is being held in the least disruptive way possible to traffic flow/speed.

3) A maximum public inconvenience factor e.g. <10% increase in either of journey time or distance.

4) Extensive public notification and on the day signposting of reasonable detours that comply with 3.

Mike

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#1535971 19-Apr-2016 19:58

MikeAqua:

I think the bar for closure of or holding events on public roads is set way, way, way too low.

Roads are funded and built primarily for transport not public entertainment or racing.

Closing a road or staging an event on a road that slows/disrupts traffic shroud be an exceptional activity and there should be a few requirements: -

1) A very high public-benefit:public-inconvenience threshold.

2) The event couldn't reasonably be held elsewhere and is being held in the least disruptive way possible to traffic flow/speed.

3) A maximum public inconvenience factor e.g. <10% increase in either of journey time or distance.

4) Extensive public notification and on the day signposting of reasonable detours that comply with 3.

Heh I'll vote for you if you apply for Job as head of Auckland Transport.

afe66

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#1536138 19-Apr-2016 23:39

webwat:

tardtasticx: Can't beleive so many people will be so nasty against new graduates. Auckland University and AUT both use the same route, blocking queen street for a half hour or so (going only in one direction I might add, most East bound traffic is fine).

I get maybe you were a little inconvenienced but that's life, graduations, parades and ceremonies happen and streets may be blocked with the huge amount of people. I just hope that if you ever have family or friends graduating you pass on your disapproval and protest the procession, make your disapproval well known because I'm certain they'll thank you for it :)

Since the graduates made lots of people late to work, and blocked plenty of their customers from getting in before the procession, yeah! Stupidity no matter who has their procession at rush hour.

I'd love to start work at 9am...

Usually well underway by 8am, not many events that early in morning.

Reminds me of the BBC interview of the head of trauma after the London bombings being asked whether there were any problems with having enough staff at such an early time. (after 9am)

The doctor paused, before replying no they had no problems with staffing (as they started hours before the BBC reporter obviously did)