My Account
Driving dominance
Elizabeth Maxwell, Silverdale (abridged)
May I say how I loved to see the image of cyclists riding across the Harbour Bridge, in your recent edition (HM June 16). It is time that other modes of transport are taken seriously, and given the same access as drivers to major parts of the network like the bridge. Drivers can no longer rule the road. In case you hadn’t noticed, we are in a climate emergency and every bike is one less vehicle, which reduces congestion as well as emissions. I’m excited to see a trial bike lane, which I believe drivers would soon come to think of as normal. And cyclists may not have to breathe in all the diesel fumes much longer as it looks like in a few years, they will be mainly sharing the road with electric vehicles.
Bridge not for sharing
Danny Donovan, Red Beach (abridged)
After reading your June 16 edition regarding Infrastructure issues taken to the streets, I would like to reply to Paula Luijken and Mike Garnet’s comments about the rally that made a demand for a cycle lane on the Harbour Bridge. Firstly, let’s look at the times to give them a lane on the bridge. As I have travelled the bridge for the past 40 years for work, I can inform you that it is far too busy between 5.30am and 9.30am. From then on, the vehicles may ease off a bit but then at 3pm until 7pm it is all go again. I can see that the best time for a bike lane would be between 10pm and 1am at night. Heaven forbid if NZTA decide to give them a lane and the bridge is loaded. I am sure that drivers will use the bike lane, as I would. Secondly, as I pay approximately $15,000 per annum for travel, registration, warrant and diesel tax to use the roads I do not agree that the Lycra Brigade should have a free ride on any road, let alone the bridge. Alternatively, they can cycle Riverhead way, join the Northwestern cycleway, and get to the city that way. Paula is hoping that one lane on the bridge would be useful for a trial but people need to get to work in buses and cars and there is no way a cycleway trial can come to the fore. I can only imagine the uproar and holdups and possible deaths. If that happens who will get the backlash then? Unfortunately, the Lycra Brigade will.
Editor’s note: It is worth noting that, as most Auckland (including Hibiscus Coast) cyclists also drive cars, they generally do in fact pay for registration and fuel tax, etc. They simply choose to cycle when they can, for health, recreation, environmental reasons, or even to commute, if possible.
Peninsula Club Retirement Village raised more than $4200 at their market day in April. The funds were donated to the local branch of St John’s and their representative, Barbara Everiss, was handed the cheque last month at the Peninsula Club Residents’ annual meeting. Pictured, from left, are Barbara Everiss with market co-organisers Jackie Coomber and Chris Curtis, and Peninsula Residents’ chair Sig Bryhn.
