Youth voice – Growing ‘bus culture’

On an average week I use five different modes of transport to get from A to B – ferry, car, bus, walking and recently skateboarding (although after falling off a skateboard and fracturing my ankle I might have to give that a miss from now on).

From my experience to date and hearing back from my peers, I have reason to express a few concerns for the future state of Auckland’s transport.

Unfortunately, the recent central Government budget contributed little to Auckland’s transport infrastructure deficit – despite the government allowing for the massive growth that brings 45,000 new Aucklanders every year, and the consequent congestion on our roads. Infrastructure-wise, we are behind and will continue to stay behind with the current state of Auckland Council’s fiscal constraints. If there is not funding urgently diverted to Auckland, the youth of today will be the ones in gridlock tomorrow, along with everyone else!

I would like to acknowledge however some of the great aspects of public transport on the Hibiscus Coast, an example being the ferry service. My breath continues to be taken away every time I ride into the city, by the stunning beauty of our coastline. But not as many people get to enjoy the view as could be. Young people in particular have expressed their desire to travel to the city on weekends, to enjoy a night out or attend ATEED facilitated events. The Local Board will be having discussions with Auckland Transport on the next steps in obtaining a service. We have a sea, so we might as well make the most of it!

The Hibiscus Coast Park and Ride is currently being extended and upgraded, with a new busway station and more carparks. What is of concern to myself and my peers is the need to future proof this Park and Ride and others still being planned. Obviously with the growth that the Unitary Plan enables in the surrounding area, the station is going to be put under heavy strain as people continue to flock to it.

Furthermore, if we want to encourage our young people to drop the keys and pick up the Hop card more, feeder services need to be improved. Young people travelling from areas such as Millwater and suburbs on the Peninsula do not have frequent feeder services to enable them to leave the keys at home. Bluntly put, busing around the Hibiscus Coast is not as regular and efficient as it needs to be. A solution to this would be taking up the ‘Kowhai Connection’ model, a small shuttle bus that connects locals in the Rodney area. A shuttle service diverting to the arms of the Hibiscus Coast with increased frequency would be a way to attract more people to use Public Transport.

Public transport can be a real positive and can help bring efficient change but only if it is done well. Public transport also has the potential to be a community hub. But in its current state, many commuters sit with their headphones on in silence. A young person at the Local Board’s intergenerational forum suggested that we should be encouraging a bus culture where commuters can connect with people in their community. Public transport has the potential to be a great social affair if we choose not to just ‘privatise’ it and defer to the unspoken social rule, of ‘thy shall not talk to thou neighbour.’ Let’s get Coasties talking to each other and strengthening our sense of community!