Auckland Transport Blog

This blog really seems to have taken off in the last few weeks, especially in terms of people making comments – which is great as I really enjoy replying to them and fine-tuning aspects of what I’ve said in my original post.

I am quite bursting with ideas for blog posts at the moment, but I thought it would be worthwhile asking what the readers of this blog are interested in finding out more about. So a few questions from me to you:

1. Is there anything in particular that you would like me to blog about?
2. Do you think I get too political? Should I be more politically neutral in my blog, or continue to go for Steven Joyce by the jugular?
3. Am I focusing too much on trains compared to buses, or buses compared to trains?
4. Are the posts too long, too short or just about right?
5. Do you think some static “pages” outlining information on important transport projects would be a good idea?
6. Any other suggestions…

A few ideas for posts I have at the moment include a discussion on the Onehunga Line, as ARTA want me to provide them with some feedback next Tuesday evening at a community consultation meeting. I hope to have my thoughts together by then on the issue. Another idea is to do a really meaty analysis of time-savings benefits, and why I think they’re stupid. And another is to do a bit of a general “here are the transport projects I think Auckland needs in the next 5,10, 20 and 30 years” post.

I look forward to the feedback! Don’t be shy.

Apart from Steven Joyce continuing to pander to his Road Transport Forum buddies, it’s been a pretty quiet day in terms of transportation news, so I thought I would direct people to what others are saying around the variety of transport-related blogs that I read:

1. Auckland Trains details some of the timetable changes that took effect today, and asks whether the Southern Line can cope. It seems like service provision has been boosted without any new trains actually arriving so it’s a good question to ask.
2. Human Transit looks at how high-frequency bus route maps could be a good idea. I agree wholeheartedly on this issue – as current bus route maps are inevitably a confusing mess as they show each and every route that is run, regardless of whether the service is run once a day or 200 times a day.
3. The Transport Politic announces the extension of the Orange Line – a bus rapid transit system – in Los Angeles. It seems like public transport is really taking off in LA in recent years, so it’s good to see any improvements. I can’t help but wonder whether BRT or LRT (light-rail) systems will be sufficient for Los Angeles though. It really needs an extensive subway system, and fast.
4. Cap’n transit analyses why it’s so necessary for public transport to attract the middle-class, not just those too poor to own a car and drive it everywhere. Clearly, in cities where public transport works best (generally European cities) everyone catches the metro, and it is the interaction between a wide variety of people within the public space of the transport system that I think contributes to the vibrancy of these cities tremendously.
5. And finally, Second Avenue Sagas discusses the rise in subway fares in New York City, with the most important point actually being how damn cheap they still are. $2.25 for a ride that’ll take you anywhere on the subway system – that is surely one of the best deals around.

Enjoy!