Clogged roads a top election priority

New Zealanders have always had issues with transport - it's been the bane of our lives for centuries.

Since the first voyagers stepped into a waka, New Zealanders have faced long, tedious and sometimes dangerous journeys, first to get to these shores and nowadays just to get to work.

Gridlocked motorways, killer highways and inadequate public transport all make it seem easier just to stay home.

Yet Kiwis love their cars. They want to get in them and drive - even if they can't get anywhere. In a recent global survey of car ownership, New Zealanders ranked fourth in the world, with 89 per cent of us owning a car.

The Government's response to this love affair with cars has been to raise petrol taxes and pump in more money to solve our transport woes, especially in the Auckland region.

But despite a $10.7 billion investment programme in Auckland's public transport and roads, it is predicted the average speed on main roads and motorways will fall because of a projected 22 per cent increase in traffic levels. Elsewhere in the country, the regions complain they are being starved of transport funding to feed the transport monster that is Auckland.

After 30 years as a truck driver, there is not a lot Mike Burke doesn't know about Auckland's roads. The best and worst routes, bad driving habits, the right - and wrong - time to go to different suburbs, and how easy it used to be to get around and how hard it is now.

As an owner operator, time is money to Mike, and every year it gets harder for him to make a living as time ticks away while he sits on Auckland's clogged roads.

The Herald on Sunday asked Mike what he thought about our transport system and what was needed to fix it.

What major changes have you noticed over the past three decades?

More traffic on the road is the main one and people are not flexible enough. They don't seem to be putting an effort in to adapt to the changing conditions. Many companies are only open between 7:30am and 4pm so you only have a limited time for deliveries. In other cities in the world, they have specific times for deliveries - early in the morning or late at night - which is a better idea, especially as it would take a lot of traffic off the road at peak times.

What changes have you made?

As fuel prices have gone up, I've started to drive a different way. I don't rush anymore. I found that speeding doesn't get you anywhere. If you sit back and take your time you get there just as quick. If I hear about a traffic snarl, I'll delay deliveries if I can. I'll avoid certain suburbs at rush hour. It is pointless going on the Northwestern [Motorway] in the early morning.

What do you think is needed in Auckland?

We definitely need a ring road, which should include the proposed eastern corridor. Also there are a lot of roads that could be used as two lanes if they trimmed the overhanging trees. That would relieve a lot of the pressure. Safe cycle lanes would help as well. I cycle in the weekends but it is too dangerous on most roads during the week.

What about government policy over the past few years - how has it affected you?

When I first started driving, I would do everything, but now there are so many restraints you can't help people any more in case you violate some regulation. Compliance costs have really increased as well.

What about the coming election - whose policies look the best?

National seem to be doing all right. They seem to want to get the whole country moving, with plans for things like more passing lanes. The problem seems to be the Government comes up with ideas, spends millions on consultation and then nothing happens. It is a waste of money. They need to just get on and do it.

What would you do?

They should never have sold the railways. Everything that goes past Hamilton should go by rail, and that would relieve a lot of transport problems, although that won't happen now as there are too many road carriers and the railway needs major investment in it.