I've always wondered about rubbish and recycling collection around public holidays. They seem to collect a day later if there's been a holiday but by the following week the collection days are back to normal. How do they catch up? (A big thank you to waste and recycling collectors too, by the way).
- George McMillan, Point Wells.
When it is a short (four-day) working week, for example when a public holiday falls on a Monday, rubbish collection goes back a day, as we know. When your normal collection day is Friday, your rubbish will be collected on Saturday. In an average week, there is no collection on Saturdays. On the next Monday, normal collection resumes.
I have noted that on some T2 transit lane signs, an icon shows that a motorcyclist is allowed. On others there is no motorcycle icon. What is the overall ruling for T2 lanes in regard to motorcycles with a rider only? Where can I find this information?
- Walter Wilde, Auckland.
A transit lane is reserved for the use of the following vehicles (unless specifically excluded by a sign installed at the start of the lane):
• Motor vehicles carrying no fewer than the number of people (including the driver) specified on the sign, eg T2 is for any vehicle that has two or more occupants
• Passenger service vehicles (including taxis, regardless of whether or not they are carrying passengers)
• Cycles
• Motorcycles (one or two people up)
• Mopeds.
I found this, and so much more, on Auckland Transport's website.
I regularly take the early morning commute along Shakespeare Rd, Milford. There is a T2 traffic lane for almost the entire length of the road. Frequently the traffic backed up from the traffic lights at the North Shore Hospital entry goes well back into the T2 lane. Am I, as a single-occupant vehicle, permitted to join the queue in the T2 lane or should I stay in the outer lane and then "force" my way into the left lane to allow me to turn left?
- Robin Kelly, North Shore.
I'm afraid you are obliged to stay in the general use lane until 50m or less from your turn, and then indicate to turn left and hope that some kind motorist will let you in.
• Thank you to the many people who emailed me with information about Eric Armishaw. He was a local businessman who lived in the Pt Chevalier area, and was also an Auckland City councillor as a member of Sir Dove-Myer Robinson's United Independent Party. He is perhaps best known as a boxing referee from the 1940s to the 1960s.
The Armishaw Building in Albert St in the central city is named after Eric Armishaw, as is the reserve in Pt Chevalier.