KEY POINTS:
I'm never quite sure who has right of way at the View Rd/Esplanade Rd intersection in Mt Eden, and from watching the traffic, I'm not the only one. When you travel south on Esplanade from Mt Eden Rd, Esplanade merges into View Rd as they intersect. However, when
you travel north on Esplanade or west on View, you have to come to a stop where they intersect. Who has the right of way and how do you signal? Torrent Woodard, Mt Eden.
It's a bit of a funny one, this, because the main traffic stream is from View left into Esplanade if you're heading towards Mt Eden Rd, and the reverse if going towards Dominion Rd, and these are the motorists who have right of way. The compulsory stops on View heading west and Esplanade heading north mean that cars must stop here and give way to all other traffic, as is the rule with any compulsory stop. Heading west on View to turn south into Esplanade, there is a Give Way sign, and these motorists have priority over those at the compulsory stops. But, as always, if you are in any doubt, stop and wait until your way is clear before turning, and always signal your intentions.
When does the bus lane operate on Fanshawe St, between Halsey St and Market Place? One sign says Bus Lane, another says Bus Lane Mon-Fri 7am-9am, and yet another says Bus Lane Ends, right at a pedestrian traffic light. But the bus lane seems to continue to Customs St West. The other day I was waiting for the pedestrian light, in the far left lane, when a Stagecoach bus came up behind me and tooted, indicating that the driver felt I was in his lane. Was I? Melanie O'Sullivan, Auckland.
The bus lane operates from 7am to 9am Monday to Friday. When I went for a look on Tuesday, it seemed to me that the Bus Lane Ends sign was in the wrong place, and should be closer to the Customs St West corner.
And out of bus lane hours you have as much right to be in that lane as anyone else, including bus drivers.
When using the Greenlane roundabout and then getting on the motorway heading towards the city, the sign reads Southern Motorway. I have a mild panic attack that I'm heading the wrong way, and it must be very confusing for visitors to Auckland. Could it not be altered to read Motorway North or something similar? Lesley Garriock, Waimauku.
The sign says Southern Motorway because that's the name of the road. It's the equivalent of the name on your street sign. The name on the road sign must be the same as that on a map of the area, so that drivers and navigators know where they are.
And there are signs along the sides of the motorway saying North and South, so people know they are heading in the right direction. Or not.