Ask Phoebe: Bus lanes free outside marked hours

A bus lane with no hours marked is always a bus lane, but others are free to use outside the times indicated on the sign. Photo / Brett Phibbs

When travelling on a motorway (Albany to Takapuna) there are signs advising Buses Only. But there is also another sign below this which states times 6.30 to 9am and 5 to 7pm, then underneath Buses Only. Are cars etc allowed to use this lane outside those hours? Anne White, North Shore.

And, similarly:

The road starting from the corner of St Lukes Rd until Carrington Rd has a bus lane.
This bus lane has the words 'bus lane' written on it but wherever the words appear on the road there is also a board that indicates bus lane 4pm to 6pm. Does this mean before 4pm and after 6pm other vehicles/cars can run on it? Abraham Vishal, Auckland.

Yes to both. Outside the hours stated on the noticeboard, the lane is open for general use.

But beware - on the motorway bus lane, it really is for buses only. Motorcycles, scooters and bicycles may not use bus lanes on the motorway, unlike those in urban areas.

Many years ago Telecom spent $10 million installing what I understood was a fibre optics cable in the area around Half Moon Bay. They promptly abandoned it and nothing has been done with it, to my knowledge, since then. Are there any plans to actually use it now there seems to be a need for one or has it degenerated past the point of repair, or have they just plain forgotten about it? Colin Philps, Half Moon Bay and Dave Ronson, Pakuranga

According to a report in the Herald on July 9 last year, listed infrastructure company Chorus has revealed what towns and suburbs will get ultra-fast broadband over the next few years.

The company, which is building the lion's share of the Government's fibre internet scheme, confirmed rollout plans for July 2014 to June 2016.

By the end of this period, Chorus hopes to have installed fibre through 57 per cent of the regions where it is the Government's build partner.

The company is one of the four firms which have joined with the Government for the internet scheme, which the taxpayer is putting $1.5 billion towards.

Areas include Half Moon Bay and large parts of east Auckland.

A final word on smart meters, from Trustpower, and they agree with other power providers who responded. The householder did not "pay for the meter" when building their home. They paid for the wiring of their home, but the meter has always remained the property of the meter owner, who, depending upon location, may be their retailer, the local line network company, or a metering services contractor. With respect to "opting out", consumers wishing to canvas this question will need to talk first to their retailer, who will be able to advise who the meter owner is. Whether they are able to opt out will be determined case by case based upon the reasons the consumer wishes to decline a smart meter. And several correspondents have advised that, to the best of their knowledge, there is no legislation that states you must have a smart meter at your house.

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