9 August 2004

Play your part and keep Auckland moving

Get educated about bus lanes, and you’ll be ‘fine-free’ – that’s the message coming from Auckland City as they launch another bus lane education campaign today.

Advertising to remind motorists about what they should and shouldn’t do in a bus lane will be played out on bus backs, Adshel bus shelters and drive-time radio over the next month, confirming the council’s commitment to bus lanes as an integral part of the city’s transport strategy.

The campaign reinforces the risk of a $150 fine for using a bus lane illegally, but also encourages drivers to learn how to use bus lanes, for example, how to use the 50m rule.

“Motorists needing to gain access to or from property and surrounding streets are entitled to drive in the bus lane for a maximum of 50 metres during operating hours,” says Chris Geerlings, Auckland City’s parking services manager.

He emphasises that bus lanes benefit both cars and buses, and it’s going to become more important for motorists to understand how to use bus lanes as increasing numbers of people use public transport.

“The benefits of bus lanes are lessened every time a car drives in them illegally,” says Mr Geerlings. “If cars and buses are able to use their lanes as the legislation intended, both will get where they need to go faster.”

When bus lanes aren’t operating, motorists can use them as regular traffic lanes. Most bus lanes operate during peak traffic periods, however as they can differ depending on their location, the advertising campaign encourages people to check bus lane road signs to find out the times the bus lanes operate.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>