Council bus lanes ticket threat

Bus lane users will be ticketed from this week. Photo: Supplied.

People who use bus lanes will be fined from this week, after a month of warnings being issued, says a Tauranga city Council spokesperson.

On behalf of the NZ Transport Agency, Tauranga City Council issued 240 warning notices since April 30, to drivers using the bus lanes in Hewletts Road.

The fine will be $150.

'The Bus lanes are for buses and people riding bikes, motorbikes and mopeds,” says a statement from Tauranga City Council.

'People driving other vehicles are allowed to use the bus lanes for no more than 50 metres before turning at an intersection or into a driveway or when merging back into the main traffic lane after exiting from a driveway.”

The monitoring is done using CCTV cameras, and the Hewletts Road bus lanes are enforceable under Land Transport legislation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

'The warning is issued as the city council and the NZTA investigate opportunities for new bus lanes in other parts of the city to help make bus travel more reliable and convenient.

'Drivers are encouraged to consider other options such as public transport, walking, cycling or carpooling, especially when travelling in peak times.”

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12 comments

Wait, what?

Posted on 21-05-2018 15:49 | By Chris

You mean council hasn't been issuing tickets for people using bus lanes? These bus lanes have been established for YEARS, I can't believe there has been zero enforcement.


Why hasn't this been happening?

Posted on 21-05-2018 15:52 | By The Sage

I thought there were signs up stating what the fine was for using a bus lane.


CAR TRANSPORTERS

Posted on 21-05-2018 16:08 | By righto

HOW ABOUT YOU FINE THE CAR TRANSPORTERS AND DELIVERY TRUCKS THAT PARK IN THE BUS LANES DURING BUSY TIMES


Why warn?

Posted on 21-05-2018 16:14 | By maildrop

What is it with the authorities that they think ignorant people can be persuaded to stop acting like tools? Get them fined already. We need the money, and they deserve it, so no warnings necessary. Consider crushing the car too.


Why warn?

Posted on 21-05-2018 16:14 | By maildrop

What is it with the authorities that they think ignorant people can be persuaded to stop acting like tools? Get them fined already. We need the money, and they deserve it, so no warnings necessary. Consider crushing the car too.


hang on a minute

Posted on 21-05-2018 16:20 | By old trucker

how can council issue tickets, for crying out loud its a Main road,SO they have someone monitoring 24 -7, have they got nothing better to do, NOW, what about BIG TRUCKING COMPANIES,CONCRETE TRUCKS etc,that need to turn left at Maru st surely they can run down the Bus lane to go left, WHATS the problem with that, buses running down there with one person on,every half hr, ANOTHER MONEY gathering PLAN, always THREATNING people with things, if they listened to people about problems we face out there would help.anyway they listen to cyclist to build more lanes for them,my 2 bobs worth for what its worth,this story makes me sick,out to get ya and watching BIG BROTHER, nothing better to do,they would SAVE $$$$MILLIONS a year if they CUT STAFF IN HALF, Thank you, 10-4 out.phew.NOW $36,000 in 21 days,good on ya TCC make my day,yeah right,easy money eh,


Maildrop is on to it

Posted on 21-05-2018 17:01 | By Calm down

You should consider working for the council maildrop. Crushing someone's car is a very rational response to people using the bus lanes.


Waste of time

Posted on 21-05-2018 18:18 | By Rinkles

Having a bus lane that is used probably no more than 3 times an hour is a waste of time when the traffic is so heavy in the peak hours. However, I get it that you are wanting to get more people onto buses but is it working. When one looks at the early morning traffic flowing from MacDonald street o the main part of Hewletts road, and the number of vehicles turning left into Aerodrome road it further poses the question as to whether or not that short strip should allow for buses and left turners all the way. This would reduce congestion.


Get the easy stuff out of the way please...

Posted on 21-05-2018 20:06 | By groutby

.....no exceptions, ...no ignorance of the (by)law....just do it and follow it through....next, the harder stuff...reducing unnecessary 'incidents'....red light jumping..can we use the cameras for that?..someone's going to get seriously hurt or killed out here....real soon....


old truckers

Posted on 21-05-2018 21:12 | By Wonkytonk

If you look at the article "why warn" it says 50m, so they can turn into Maru...god some people just comment with hate and don't read! I have to sit in traffic on this road every day, its my choice, I should get the bus but can't be bothered, that's up to me. So if you don't like it, then tough! use the bus, i probably will do soon!


what crock

Posted on 21-05-2018 22:21 | By Capt_Kaveman

what if the traffic is built up and are turn left ?? in this case the bus lane should be used and 50m i sparthetic , this goes to show nz and tcc are out of touch on how to manage traffic


About time

Posted on 22-05-2018 19:23 | By Northboro

Hewlett Road bus lanes are abused daily - putting on a turning indicator and driving through numerous lights and then forcing back into the correct lane annoys me to no end. Using the bus lanes for no more than 50 metres before turning is ample.


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