Four locals affected by the Links Avenue trial have spoken to SunLive about their concerns, in a podcast hosted by Brendan Horan.
The Links Avenue trial continues to anger Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa residents because of increased congestion and large fines.
The road runs parallel between Maunganui Road and Oceanbeach Road and the eastern end has been closed to through traffic by creating two bus lanes.
The cul-de-sac trial instigated by Tauranga City Council has seen people rack up around $1.6 million in fines for using a bus lane.
Illegal use of a bus lane attracts a $150 fine and some Links Avenue residents have received four or five infringements.
The four-month trial was put in place after concerned residents approached council about the safety of school children using the road.
Matt Nicholson speaks on the podcast about how he started a petition calling for council to refund all the fines after seeing how many had been handed out.
His petition was signed by 5600 people and he presented it to council at a meeting last week with the support of around 40 locals.
Matt told council the trial wasn't 'fit for purpose”, the notification for the trial was inadequate and the signage and road layout were confusing.
'Fining during a trial is not an effective way to engage your community.”
Podcast panellist Sandra Riggir received a warning despite not drive down Links Ave at all on the day she was accused of.
'At first, I was panicked,” she says.
'I thought, oh my God, what have I done? Because I know I didn't go to Links Avenue.”
Sandra was one of three people that SunLive spoke to previously, who received a warning or fine incorrectly.
Tauranga City Council regulation monitoring team leader Stuart Goodman says human error has resulted in the registrations being entered incorrectly and infringements being issued.
On the podcast, Brendan also speaks to transport engineer Philip Brown, president of the Pāpāmoa Residents and Ratepayers Association, and Michael O'Neill former Road Safety Officer with NZTA who chairs the Mount Maunganui Residents and Ratepayers Association. Both have deep expertise and long-standing involvement with this issue.
7 comments
Real consultation is not required
Posted on 01-06-2022 17:09 | By waiknot
Sadly the current government deeply believes it knows best, so just mollify the locals and given time they will realise they are wrong.
Hmmm
Posted on 01-06-2022 17:26 | By Let's get real
Maybe those responsible for the initial petition to protect their uncontrollable children from the bad cars, could start another petition to protect the thousands of children that are in considerably more danger around Cameron Rd, Fraser St and Devonport Rd. Let's have a car-free country on the "road to zero" that should please someone.
Daizy
Posted on 01-06-2022 21:19 | By Davy
The So called decision makers we`re not elected They need to GO
I've got to laugh at this trial
Posted on 02-06-2022 14:29 | By TheCameltoeKid
Just exactly who do So-called Commisioners think they are! This shocks me! I can't think of one reason why Links Ave and Farm Street should be shut off. This is the mentality of not only these Labour Party Stooges sucking up our money but previous Government's lack of investment in the area. One lane Hewlletts flyover? FAILURE! It's quicker to take the underpass. It should've been built to take three lanes each way instead of on lane each way. These people from NZTA have seriously let Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty down!
I have to agree with
Posted on 04-06-2022 20:57 | By The Caveman
Let's get real - where are the nexts streets that these NUTTERS are going to shut off to residents and ratepayers !! If live on a street or use a street that has a school near you street - be prepared to have your access to your street BLOCKED by these commissioners !!
Why would anyone trust Council?
Posted on 07-06-2022 14:19 | By Avman
The council put in an original scheme to re-route buses along Links Ave, which was a total failure. Then they put in a second plan to fix the first plan, and that too was a total failure. Now that same council says that they urgently have to put in place a third plan to sort out the safety problems that they created with their previous two schemes. Why on earth would anybody still listen to a single word that they say anymore? They have proven that they can't do their jobs and must be sacked.
legalized robbery
Posted on 08-06-2022 18:47 | By paul12
this $150 fine is absolutely absurd and just amounts to revenue gathering by the council
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