Letters: Good public transport the only way

The solution to Tauranga's traffic woes is good public transport infrastructure, a reader says.

A solution to city's traffic woes

In 'The traffic nightmare continues' (Opinion, June 11) the writer states that traffic volume in Tauranga has increased 11 per cent in the past 12 months, describes the city's most congested areas and finishes by saying 'I don't know what the solution is... I fear we will all be spending more and more of our lives sitting behind a steering wheel'.

The solution is good public transport infrastructure. We can't expect to build enough roads to be able to cope with an ever-increasing population. Auckland tried and is now suffering for it.

The key is to get people out of their cars altogether. We need to provide sustainable, efficient, cost-effective alternatives to private car use. We have the highest level of private car use in the country and a culture of driving. This needs to change.

It's the only way we're going to ease both congestion and parking woes.
(Abridged)
Rosie Dawson-Hewes
Mount Maunganui

Focus on important issues

Are the councillors with the decision to resurrect the plans for a harbourside walkway
(News, June 12) kidding us or do they just have nothing else to do?

This issue has been extensively discussed, in the past and the implications and ramifications of - in particular the removal of residents' riparian rights and the potential financial costs - made it a no-goer then so why go there again?

One would think that rather than facing something that has already done the rounds that they would be concentrating on the really important issues facing this city, such as roading, the city centre redevelopment, water issues and the other infrastructure issues that residents face every day.

My view would be that this is yet another council red herring in order to take our attention away from the other important issues facing this city that some councillors appear to find too hard to do.

Surprisingly eight councillors voted to restart the project which just goes to prove that they do not learn from history.

Mike Baker
Bethlehem

Govern for all New Zealanders
A fund of $4 million has just been launched to assist young Maori to get their driver's licence so that they are better able to get work or keep out of jail. Many young people cannot stump up the three-tiered cost of $338.20 to get their licence.

Why is the taxpayer funding yet another programme based on ethnicity and why doesn't our elected government govern for all New Zealand citizens based on need not on the squeaky wheel of tribal Maori elite?

Maureen J Anderson
Pyes Pa