Latest forecast: showers clearing

North Shore commuters  continue to weather the storm while they wait for buses, but
there has been a small break in the black clouds. Debrin Foxcroft finds out more.
Winter in Auckland is not fun. It's rainy, cold and it feels as if for five months of
the year there is nothing but heavy dark clouds in the sky.
Through all this, Aucklanders are encouraged to catch public transport. But, for many North Shore commuters this has meant waiting for buses exposed to the elements. The
rain-soaked and  litter-strewn wind-tunnel that is Albert St in the Auckland CBD has been the main pick-up point for buses heading across the bridge.
In the first week of September The Aucklander ran a story on this harrowing experience for North Shore commuters. Mary Ansley, one of the north-bound commuters we spoke to, said: "It would be so much better if we had a proper bus stop. It gets so bad during the winter that we take shelter in the doorways. But that annoys the business owners. They don't want us to block their entrances.''
Ms Ansley's only other options are to brave the wind and rain or walk to Fanshawe St bus stops 1.5km away. It's not just the walk that worries her. She doesn't feel safe waiting in the dark beside Victoria Park. So she picks option A, rain or shine.
Winds of change have begun to blow, however faintly.
North Shore City councillor Jan O'Connor raised the subject with the Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council.
Safety, cleanliness and shelter were what she was looking for. She asked for cleaner and more people-friendly bus stops near the Civic Theatre.
"The Albert St stops are very well used by downtown office workers, shoppers and for backpackers coming over to see the North Shore,'' she said in September, "but there are just two seats, which I fought to get put in a few years ago. The rubbish bin is filthy.''
Mrs O'Connor sent photos of the bus stops to city council officers, showing exactly what commuters are expected to tolerate.
"Nothing has changed in Albert St in regards to the cleanliness of these stops,'' she says.
"In fact, two people commented on vomit on the bus seats at 3pm last Friday outside the District Court.
"However, the battle over the Bay's buses via Takapuna leaving from the unused 70m bus stop outside the Civic has been partially won.
"These buses now leave this stop after 6.30pm and all weekend.  I firmly believe they should leave from there all day just like the buses to Dominion Rd and Hillsborough leave all day outside the St James Theatre.''
The Civic stop has two splendid shelters plus two seats - but they are empty all day, says Mrs O'Connor.
"I believe the shops in Queen St would benefit greatly if there were easier access for North Shore shoppers who begrudge paying $8 an hour parking charges.''