Letters: No relief from Welcome Bay traffic jams

A reader says traffic into and out of Welcome Bay has not improved - despite a roading upgrade. Photo/File.

On February 28, starting at 8am I spent one-hour monitoring traffic at Welcome Bay Lane and the traffic lights at Hammond St. Every five minutes there was an average of 23 vehicles that could have used that slip lane instead of being forced to turn left at Hammond St lights.

That's 276 vehicles an hour. In effect, $45 million wasted and which has achieved nothing.

On the other hand, I really can't see what the problem cyclists have with the slip lane, traffic crossing the cycle lane is really no different from traffic crossing the cycle lane into two supermarkets on Cameron Rd.

What would be a great idea is to lower the speed to 50km/h on Welcome Bay Rd and then increase the speed limit to 70km/h on the underpass/Turret Rd and get rid of the ridiculous 50km/h temporary signs.

Alan Ryan
Welcome Bay

Cycle lanes

In reply to the column on cycle lanes (Opinion, February 13). Fewer bike lanes and more roads and parking is the route to becoming Los Angeles. It is not the Kiwi way. The Government needs to get dangerous drivers off the road (and maybe onto bikes) or bear responsibility for lost lives as well as the under-utilised bike lanes.

When it's safe enough on the bike lane for children and oldies to ride carefree is when you will know that our home has come to a place where the quality of life supersedes the rush to get around. Then count bike lane usage.

The solution is making road bike lanes safer - not getting rid of them.

F. Gardner
Tauranga

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:
• Letters should not exceed 200 words.
• They should be opinion based on facts or current events.
• If possible, please email.
• No noms-de-plume.
• Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.
• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.
• Local letter writers given preference.
• Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.
• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor's discretion.
• The Editor's decision on publication is final.
Email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR