by frog
So much news swirling around for a Monday. Poll results in Mt Albert show Russel is giving the Nats a run for their money. Bain plays golf. The NACT government continues to steamroll over Auckland democracy.
What do ya think?
Published in THE GAME by frog on Mon, June 8th, 2009
Tags: general debate
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
I note in my Auckland city council leaflets that there is talk of implementing some ‘shared space’ initiatives in a few streets in the city, looky looky, there was a post on it: http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/03/12/shared-transport-space/
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As noted at The Dim-Post, the people planning to vote Labour to keep National out may now feel free to give Russ their votes after seeing how badly Lee is polling, must have a decent shot at second, surely.
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I just read that dimpost post myself StephenR, and laughed out loud. It’s here for the rest:
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/goodbye-melissa-you-will-let-me-know-if-those-lambs-stop-screaming-wont-you/
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StephenR, thank goodness someone at Auckland City Council finally sees some sense in shared spaces! A pity all this happens after the upgrades to High Street and (most of) Lorne Street – places that would be perfect for this.
So what do people think of John Key annointing John Banks the “super mayor” of Auckland? Slip of the tongue or something more sinister?
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Busines owners rightly annoyed that there could be more construction (destruction?), and i’m pretty annoyed myself, i’m damned sick of it all, those streets are nice anyway! Lorne St IS one that’s on the list too.
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“Slip of the tongue or something more sinister?”
What would you consider sinister but also actually plausible?
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StephenR and Jarbury,
The first shared zone is likely to be a new link lane between Walters Road and Sandringham Road to be designed as a shared space for vehicles and pedestrians. This is to allow easier traffic between the rail station and Edenpark. possible intended future developments are:
Elliott and Darby Street, Lorne Street, Fort Street Area, O’Connell Street.
The problem the council is facing is that for urban design purposes one would want the road signage and markings to be as minimal as possible and leave the behaviour of vehicle drivers and pedestrians to be determined by design. For enforcement this creates a problem, absence of markings and signs means it is nearly impossible to enforce this. It means that the council is forced to paint yellow lines and erect no parking sign etc where it wants to enforce rules, to the determiment of the design.
At this stage the council is just amending the traffic bylaw to allow for the designation of roads, there after each road will be specifically declared with speed limits, parking/no parking and loading zones etc. The council expects the bylaw to be amended towards December and hopefully the first shared zones shortly thereafter.
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Stephen, only the part of Lorne Street outside the library. The bulk of Lorne Street (between Victoria and Wellesley) is not part of this upgrade as far as I know.
Of course it’s plausible that Banks will be the super city Mayor, and also plausible that John Key would support that. But to actually openly state it at this point in the process….
It certainly explains why the government is so keen on the at-large councillors.
Johan, thanks for the info – I’m a big fan of shared zones. Hans Monderman was a genius!
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Jarbury
The details are:
• Fort Street area, including Fort Street, Jean Batten Place, Fort Lane, Gore and Commerce Street (between Customs Street and Fort Street) and Lower Shortland Street;
• Elliott and Darby Streets;
• Lorne Street upgrade, (Lorne Street, Rutland Street) in front of the library, as you correctly pointed out, and
• O’Connell Street.
The idea is to do a new layout, using new surfaces, street furniture etc to control the vehicle and foot traffic rather than relying on signage, however signs will be needed to ensure enforcement.
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John Banks has a huge subliminal advantage of course. He’d get nowhere at all with the righties, if he was ‘ John Bakery’ or ‘John Salvation Army Store’
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In terms of steam rolling over loyal government here’s what I think. No I’m not impressed, actually.
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One of the dumbest things is that the government is putting people off the Super-City reforms who were previously quite a fan of it. I was excited when the Royal Commission’s report first came out, but ever since it has been a downward slide with it becoming more and more obvious that the government wants to screw things over for their (and their friends’) benefit.
Talk about doing everything they can to turn people against what is fundamentally a good idea.
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well Dave; we got more Votes than Rodney, and should invite him to share his great vision on this Blog – he’ll attract plenty of attention and advice I’m sure – transparency anyone?
Fly; Mayhap he could just go with ‘John’s Bank’?
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The plans are not just to bulldoze Auckland’s democracy, but clearly the whole country’s. Rodney wants to gut the Local Government Act as soon as National’s finished gutting the RMA.
*pulls hair out*
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Yeah, it is very worrying. I’ve posted a bit more on it this evening jarbury.
It is actually designed to reduce transparency and accountability – unless Hide is talking only about transparency and accountabilty to the Minister and his corporate cronies, rather than to the public.
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I find Johan’s description of the process somewhat confusing “At this stage the council is just amending the traffic bylaw to allow for the designation of roads, there after each road will be specifically declared with speed limits, parking/no parking and loading zones etc. The council expects the bylaw to be amended towards December and hopefully the first shared zones shortly thereafter.”
I presume Johan means ACC has to amend Bylaw No. 25 – Traffic (2006) to allow for the designating of Shared Zones. Thereafter seems to be referring to the use of the current speed limit and traffic bylaws within those designated Shared Zones.
Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004
Shared zone
(1) A driver of a vehicle entering or proceeding along or through a shared zone must give way to a pedestrian who is in the shared zone.
(2) A pedestrian in a shared zone must not unduly impede the passage of any vehicle in the shared zone
“The idea is to do a new layout, using new surfaces, street furniture etc to control the vehicle and foot traffic rather than relying on signage, however signs will be needed to ensure enforcement.”
Shared Zone signs and road markings are only needed at the each entry to the Shared Zone, no signage is required within the zone except for the restricted parking/loading areas otherwise restrictions on their use can’t be legally enforced.
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Kevyn,
Sorry if I confused you, but your assumptions/summary is right.
Speed limits, parking, loading etc all still have to be specified by the ACC by resolution pursuant to the bylaw in a shared zone. The idea is to take a holistic approach to the shared zone i.e The specification of a street as shared zone will also require the setting of a low speed limit, the indication of loading zones and parking (if any) and one way traffic. The declaration of a shared zone only results in Rule 10 of the Road User Rule becoming applicable (as you have correctly said) – it does not automatically result in these other restrictions – so there has to be signage/markings for these purposes as well as the shared zone signage at the entrance/exit to the zone.
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Hmmmmmmmm
I see that the male co-leader of the party is now committed to more freedom of action rather than more controls. Does this mean that there will be a decimation of the list of things the party will ban if it gets into power?
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# Strings Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 11:53 am
> I see that the male co-leader of the party is now committed to more freedom of action rather than more controls. Does this mean that there will be a decimation of the list of things the party will ban if it gets into power?
you’ll have to ask David Farrar about that – it’s his list
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This is like the worst scenario and nothing more bad can happen than this.
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