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On a very wet Friday, we hope you have some pleasant, hot and dry place to sit and follow our summary of some of this week’s main stories in transportation and urbanism.
The header’s image shows Northcote’s intermediate students walking down the bridge ara ara awataha Greenway in Northcote, courtesy of the Auckland Council through our Auckland.
This weekly summary, like all our work, is brought to you by the Greater Auckland team and made possible by generous donations from our readers and fans. If you want to support our work, you can join our circle of supporters here or subscribe to Substack!
Share this in the light of the judicial review pending changes in the speed limit – which makes it “irrational and perverse” for the government “to demand permanent speed limit reductions to be reversed under circumstances in which … His goal or one of his purposes was To protect school -age children”(Emphasis added).
Here is a very good quick and clear explanation of how to build better cities and the benefits of doing so.
And at the local scene, Auckland’s advice highlights the changes in Northcote in the last decade as “a brilliant example of intelligent growth”:
The story includes this comment by the director of Northcote Intermediate, describing the holistic benefits of regeneration:
Our occasional friend and collaborator, Tim Adriansen released another video of his trail as he rides Alaska to Argentina.
During a meeting of the Auckland Council’s Transport, Infrastructure and Resilience Committee yesterday, Mayor Wayne Brown provided his remote feedback on the time of collection of collection item…. While he was driving.
Things reported last week that Waiheke passengers are finding cancellations, with the additional difficulty of switching between the two operators – running outside the public transport network:
Time is money, and also money is money: this route seems to be over 50 km per day, which IRD puts about $ 300 a week in gas and vehicle expenses.
Meanwhile, in Canterbury, local leadership is resisting, as it can, the government’s effort to increase public transport rates. Note how “aspirational” seems to apply to dollars, but not the quality and frequency of services.
The Canterbury Regional Council continues to retreat against government pressure to increase bus tariffs.
Environment Canterbury (Ecan) has voted for a gradual increase in bus fares over the next three years, although Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) pressing to increase the fare.
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The board’s general manager of the board’s public transport services, Stewart Gibbon, said Nzta wanted the board to be “more aspirational,” but the agency’s proposal was not “reached.”
Frills What Emotion
Former Transport Minister Simeon Brown often talked about adopting a “no frills” approach to infrastructure construction and even included this stipulation in his government policy statement, with disability extending to the most affordable and democratic infrastructure:
Investment in walking and cycling is expected to make a contribution to growth and economic productivity. To achieve this, project specifications must adopt an approach and financing of “no frills” should be directed to reduce congestion and/or improve pedestrian safety.
Therefore, it is remarkable that the new SH1/SH29 roundabout includes a great and beautiful asshole – or the penalty, as appropriate. As the Waikato Times reports:
It is pointing the way to Taupiri, is 12 meters high, weighs 12.5 tons and you simply cannot lose.
The impressive new sculpture at the Highway 1 and 29 intersection in Piarere has been turning his head since its installation last month – but there is more in the history of Avian’s powerful than you might expect.
Designed by the world-called Waikato artist Fred Graham, Te Mananngimaarie (Bird of Peace) celebrates a powerful history of inheritance, unity and peace and reflects the deep connection between Ngaa Hapuu Waikato (Waikato’s sub-tribes), Earth and the many trips that pass through the region.
Made of weathered steel, Te Manan Rangimaarie was built by Frankton’s Metal Manufacturing Company, Longveld, who worked with Mana Whenua in several of the major Waikato Express Sculptures, including the Cambridge section and Hamilton’s resolution exchange.
The total cost of the sculpture was $ 609,000 – which includes design, construction and installation. This number represents about 1.4% of the total cost of US $ 57 million from the rotating project.
Fill the gaps for wildlife
Related, in a way: an intriguing piece of NY Times (Gift Link) about wildlife crossings, also known as green bridges in Colorado, which are reconnecting the ways of desire for creatures, reducing damage to nature and people. Road safety and environmental elevation at one time, what do you not like?
Integers of deer and alces use structures, as well as bears, mountain lions, lynances, coyotes and foxes.
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It has been found that wildlife crosses, when combined with long stretches of fences to channel animals to the right place, reduce vehicle collisions with large animals by over 80 %.They are expensive, but the research has shown that it can save money when installed on highway stretches, with at least one average of three collisions between drivers and deer per year. For collisions with ELK and Moose, which are larger and therefore cause more damage to vehicles and people, this threshold decreases to less than one collision per thousand per year.
Obviously, these things should be funded from highway budgets, as it is about reducing the messy and dangerous side effects of the highway building. Perhaps our next government policy statement can include this wisdom – and after all, Homo sapiens also needs green bridges.
New Zealand leading the way … to the bottom of the chart
As electric vehicle sales continue to grow worldwide, New Zealand receives a special mention of the EV universe, which tracks sales in 58 countries:
New Zealand: 6,364 EVs sold in 2024, -69.8% growth A / A, 5.00% market share of EV.
The winner, in the steep EV decrease category this year, is New Zealand. We have already seen the sharp drop early in the year, after growing 29.8% in 2024. The difference in the market share is wild: 14.50% (2023) → 5.00% (2024).
This type of fall can usually only be due to one thing – (dis) incentives. The government ruled out the clean car discount policy and introduced the user charging scheme for the Ves at the turn of the year, where VAS owners.
Here is a look at our friend James who executes the database Evdb.nz:
When the auto industry shakes its green washes
As reported by The Guardian, it seems that if the auto industry can agree with one thing, it is that people do not need to know if their products are green or not:
Ten main car manufacturers – in addition to two automotive commercial agencies – were fined over 77 million by a UK regulator after admitting that competition from violations of the advertising of their green credentials.
The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) launched an investigation after a Mercedes-Benz tip, which allowed the German brand to avoid financial fines, although it was also involved in the cartel.
Its rivals – BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Peugeot Citroën, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen – “illegally agreed” not to announce when the percentage of their cars can be recycled at the end of the car, the car’s life.…
The CMA added that most manufacturers participated in this practice from May 2002 to September 2017, with Jaguar Land Rover joining in September 2008.
The contract was established in a document called “Elv Charta” – sometimes called “gentlemen’s agreement” – and sought to “avoid a competitive race” among manufacturers regarding the advertising claims of this type.
How to focus attention on urgent solutions?
In LinkedIn, an impressive example of how (and how not) arouses discussions about decarbonization of our daily lives, including transportation. As shared by Prageeth Jayathissa, GM’s sustainability in the vector, a post about climate action plans receives crickets, while a post about the work of the train awakens joy. A useful example for communicators in our field! We also have the answer from Toutoko Tim.
Ask smarter questions, get smarter answers
Also in the tied place, a fascinating example of how (and if) the AI understands road safety and how to make it better and what is the true “radical” position. Two big Takeaways: Never accept the first answer; And it is important to maintain a question before each answer. We are the teacher and the machine is the pupil.
CRL insights from the electric bike team
The EBT staff in East St were invited to a walk through CRL Karanga-ā-Hape station, which is by chance at his door. Along with some great photos, they share some thoughts about the (lost) potential of epic travel chain in the European way:
Of course there are elevators from street level to platform, so bringing your electronic bikes to the train will be straight right. As services become more popular, it will be harder to take a bicycle on the train during peak times.
Unfortunately, there was no real investment in bicycle parking lot as part of the new train station built, compared, for example, to Sydney Metro New Station bike parking premises. So riding to Karanga-a-Hape station and leaving your bike at the station while traveling to another place is a high risk activity for your electronic bicycle!
When operating, you will be able to take a train with your Hamilton bike straight to the door door and everywhere. If only there was a way to continue the trip to the north too …
A fresh bite of the great apple
A new version of New York’s iconic subway map has people talking. (If you are at Bluesky, there is a good topic here by MTA). Like NY Times Reports (Gift Link):
Two of the highest changes address the readability of the transfer points in some of the busiest hubs and the representation of system accessibility resources, said Shanifah Rieara, director of clients of the authority.
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As a central piece of the recent MTA elevation, the new map will likely summon a series of pilots and chair cartographers.
Karen Hedju, 57, resident of Morningside Heights in Manhattan, was one of the first to lie the latest design.
“Meh,” Hedju said as he looked at the design in a colorful impression. “It seems confusing,” he added.
Terence Richardson, 56, a home health supervisor, was more enthusiastic, praising the most detailed legend in the upper right corner.
Others observed the similarities of design with the London Traffic Map.
And late, but in honor of the month of women’s history, a re-up of this classic (you can see the original here).
#Womenshistorymonth: The Women’s City map is a fascinating visualization of women’s history and urban transport. Created by Molly Roy, Rebecca Solnit and Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, the map renames the subway to after notable women with ties with this area, offering a totally new way to view #NYC.
-New York Traffic Museum (@nytransitmuseum.bsky.social) 2025-03-21t16: 00: 14.098Z
We are for the week. As always, feel free to share links and stories in the comments. And have a great weekend!
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