Tauranga's traffic has increased plenty in recent months but reader Ian Chitty has some options as to what could help. Photo/file
Tauranga's traffic has increased plenty in recent months but reader Ian Chitty has some options as to what could help. Photo/file
Free buses a safe investment
"We are all painfully aware of how Tauranga has changed in the space of just a few years, and we all are witness to the traffic congestion that is getting worse day by day. Not only are our roads unable to cope with this increase, but throw in many more families with at least two or three children and you have a very frustrating situation.
Dawn Picken made a lot of sense in "Free buses a no-brainer" in the BOP Times, February 24, and certainly for thousands of families who are only just making ends meet, to be able to save even $100 a month on travel costs would make a huge difference.
Reader Isabel Ashmore says free buses makes sense for helping transport school children around the region. Photo/file
It is also a lot safer for children to use buses to and from school than having to cycle. I for one don't like the thought of children trying to negotiate a very harassed queue of cars to get to school.
So it really makes sense to drop all charges for students on school buses. Besides helping those families battling to cover their costs, this will mean there will be less traffic and a lot more kids being able to get to and from school without a problem." (Abridged)
Isabel Ashmore Tauranga
Cycle lane shame
"Cycle lane shame I agree with Peter Turmer, why have cycle lanes when cyclists use footpaths or roads? I often walk on the boardwalk at the Mount, only to be yelled at "get out of the way".
"I have often pointed out to cyclists the "No cyclists" signs, only to get sworn at or told to "get a life" or "rules are made to be broken". On Maunganui Rd the other day I saw four cyclists using the cycle lane but riding two abreast, meaning they were in the road. These are the first cyclists I have seen using the cycle lane on Maunganui Rd. I also travel on Cameron Rd and have never seen a cyclist in the cycle lane - as Peter pointed out they use the footpath.
Cyclists gathered together in Tauranga to show the local council its support for an Omokoroa to Otumoetai cycleway. Photo/file
Omokoroa ratepayers have contributed $160,000 to the Omokoroa-Tauranga cycleway, some of it from the roading budget. Omokoroa Rd is in a shocking state. It was never meant to have the amount of traffic it does, yet some of the money was taken for a cycleway. I think the cycleway will be an asset but at a cost to all ratepayers, whether in Tauranga or Western Bay districts."
"As long-term residents of Tauranga we have seen the increase in traffic volumes over the last 12 months creating much more pressure on our roading system.
We see an alternative to increased bus traffic as proposed by the regional council to use our existing rail line to initially create a pilot two-carriage commuter train service from a park-and-ride at ASB Stadium to the Strand CBD (possibly extended to Omokoroa). NZ Rail would have spare trains units in their fleet and this could potentially offer revenue to them.
Trustpower staff commuters from Papamoa would benefit greatly after the relocation of their head office from Te Maunga to the CBD. Tauranga parents and children could utilise the service to take families to sporting events at ASB stadium. Other Papamoa commuters could avoid traffic delays by using the train service. Potentially a coffee cart service could be offered with tourist potential for the city long-term."
