KEY POINTS:
I work in Newmarket and live in Ponsonby, and often I don't finish work until midnight. I have no choice but to drive my car to work as there is no available bus service at that time of night. Is there any plan to extend the Link bus hours? Rick Manley, Ponsonby.
Demand for the Link, in fact for most bus services, is very low in the late evening, says Sharon Hunter of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority. The authority regularly reviews patronage levels, and they do want people to use public transport, but a service needs to be patronised to be viable. So, no plans to extend the Link service at this stage.
I have noticed that all the bicycle icons have been removed from the green bus lanes around the city. Does this mean that bicycles are no longer allowed to use the bus lanes? Brett Stimpson, Epsom.
No, it's business as usual, but you need to set your sights a little higher. New signs have been put up along the edges of bus lane routes (well, at least in my part of the city) indicating which vehicles may use the green lanes - a bus, a motorcycle which looks to me like an old Indian, and a bike.
I have been commuting by motorcycle between Devonport and the city for many years and have enjoyed being able to use urban bus lanes to avoid having to sit and wobble my way through some of the denser traffic congestion when it's really slow. I know I can use urban bus lanes but not those on motorways. When does the bus lane change from urban to motorway, especially in relation to Esmonde Rd? David Bradbury, Devonport.
Kylie Smith of North Shore City Council says the eastern side of the overbridge just before Barrys Point Rd is the interface between the council's lane and Transit's bus lanes.
The Esmonde Rd bus lane is likely to be removed as it may become redundant with the opening of Akoranga station.
* Do you have queries about public transport, roading projects, roadworks or how to get a driver's licence? Contact Phoebe Falconer at Get Moving, Editorial department, NZ Herald, PO Box 32, Auckland. Fax (09) 3736421 or email newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz. Include name and address.
