Reduce congestion in Auckland City - Go car free?

A transport crisis of major proportions remains the Auckland City's horizon and road travel speeds during peak hours are continuing to fall below that of horse-drawn carriages. Perhaps Auckland could learn from Wellington's innovative attitude of plans to ban the use private vehicles within the cities CBD and promoting walking and cycling as complementary modes of transportation to get around.

Within the next 10-20 years, Wellington aims to inhibit CBD access for private vehicles and develop a public transport route that features electric buses, or even light rail systems. This aims to not only establish a more pedestrian friendly city that encompasses pedestrian friendly entertainment and shopping corridors, but is also likely to encourage the use of alternative means of accessing the CBD, thus discouraging private vehicle use.

While, it is true that not everyone can use bicycles, the problem is that growing levels of auto mobility in Auckland City have provided more for private vehicle than walking and cycling. Auckland’s CBD must be designed in a manner that de-markets travel via private vehicle, while actively promoting alternative transportation modes. Comfort and specialised environments are factors that can encourage more walking and bicycles use within Auckland’s CBD, and the exclusion of private motor vehicles in an effective means of achieving this. When Auckland’s growing population is taken into consideration, it is clear that more roads and catering for more vehicles is simply not a logical option.

Inner Auckland City Traffic - Kamal, A. (2008) Traffic on Queen Street to Move at Snails Pace, http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00169.htm, (Accessed: 28/04/2011).

This idea is also prominent in several parts of Hong Kong such as Discovery Bay, where streets are laced with pedestrian bridges, a vast array of public transport and cobblestone roads. However, this policy of vehicle exclusion does not include buses, taxis, and delivery vehicles, as well as bicycles and motorcycles. Internal travel encompasses the use of the 24 hour shuttle bus services and even private golf carts, which are restricted to 500 vehicles within the city.  Commuters travel to destinations outside the city via ferry or external bus services which connect transit systems in areas throughout Hong Kong.

Discovery Bay, Hong Kong - China Hong Kong Travel Guide. (2010) Discovery Bay HK, http://www.china-hongkong-travelguide.com/discovery-bay.html, (Accessed 28/04/2011).

Ideas from:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/1757965/Wellington-challenged-to-ban-cars-in-CBD
http://www.priorities.org/carfree.htm
http://www.autofrei-wohnen.de/projects.html

China's Three Dimensional Fast Bus

China is investing heavily in its urban infrastructure, especially mass transit. Its latest and most unique transit solution is the ‘three-dimensional fast bus’ that operates like a mobile tunnel, travelling over the top on motorcycles and cars. While commuter’s board from stations that are elevated one story above the ground, when the bus stops to pick up as many as 1200 passengers at a time, it’s does not have an effect on traffic flow.

China's proposed 3-dimensional bus system (Smart Travel Guide. 2011) 

While projects such as these often appear to be just out of the reach of man-kinds technological capabilities, construction of a 115-mile line in Beijing’s Mentougou District is set to begin by the end of 2011. The straddling buses are suggested to be three times faster and more affordable to construct than subways and rail transport. Operation costs are also considerably lower as the wheel-rail-hybrid is to be powered by municipal energy and solar energy. Motion sensors will also alert motorists if they swerve too close to the bus or if their vehicle is too large to travel through the tunnel. Beijing is predicted to experience a 25% reduction in traffic jams as a result on the three dimensional fast bus.

Ideas from:
http://www.utne.com/science-and-technology/public-transportation-solution-straddling-bus.aspx

Pod-cars, the future of Auckland City's public transport systems?

Perhaps the future of Auckland’s public transport will see the establishment of pod-car networks. While many aspect of this concept may seem straight from science fiction, the reality is far from it as construction is already well underway in a number of countries.

                                            Pod-car system in Stockholm

This pod-car network in Stockholm provides immediate service and means that passengers are rarely required to wait for a vehicle. An empty pod-car can arrive at the station within a few seconds. Journeys are also non-stop to the passengers desired destination, thereby eliminating the needs to plan trips in advance or transfer between vehicles.

“The Eco Factor is a zero-emission public transport concept that is based on magnetic levitation.” (Instamedia Pvt. Ltd. 2010). Industrial designer Chris Hanley has come up with a public transportation system that offers a zero-emission ride, remarkably similar to that of a roller coaster. Chaotic traffic jams, crowded parking spaces and pollution will become a thing of the past as these pods will run along tracks that are suspended above lanes and streets of major cities.

With an ability to rotate 360 degrees, the system can maneuver sharp corners to move down narrow roads within cities. The wings of the system move along the magnetic track, while the two cabins are kept completely still making it safe for people to travel without any seat belts.

The Proposed Eco-Factor pod-car system.

Unimodal Systems is a private organisation based in California that also specializes in transport solutions that leave congestion, pollution and road rage at the door. The Sky Tran personal rapid transport system will use three-seater pods that run on elevated magnetically levitated rails and contain robot control software that is also being used by NASA. 

Each pod-car will be able to travel at speeds of 150mph and navigate automatically in order to reach the passengers desired destination

This is very much a possible solution for Auckland’s public transportation issues. Unlike conventional services that often run at a loss, pod-cars are mass produced, thereby bringing the cost down while being profitable to operate. This concept has the ability to eliminate the need for private vehicles, local buses and even taxis in Auckland's CBD, thereby transforming it into a pedestrian haven. Weaving through CBD traffic will also no longer be an issue as Auckland pod-cars would operate on their very own tracks, thereby providing reliable, predictable, congestion free transit experiences. This initiative also supports a car free Auckland City.

Ideas from:
http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/sustainable-maglev-public-transport-system-offers-a-roller-coaster-like-experience/
http://www.careers-india.com/2009/09/22/skytran-high-speed-transportation/

The issue - an overview

A greater availabiltiy of sustainable transport options is a priority for cities of the future, not only to reduce traffic congestion, but also in order to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 50 percent by 2050 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2011). While many cities understand the importance of reducing their reliance on private motor vehicles, it is not yet an agenda that is heavily embraced world wide. For most cities traffic growth has been continuous and appears to be unstoppable. However, managing the growth of car use and their associated fossil fuel consumption is an essential means of enahcing a cities liveability and reducing its ecological footprint.


When rates of fuel consumption by private motor vehicles is compared throughout 84 cities around the world, there is significant variation which suggests that there is a very large difference in how cities use cars. A number of studies have concluded that these variations have little to do with climate, culture or politics, and even income, but instead have a lot to do with the physical planning decisions that are made in those cities (Newman, P. 2009). Within the urban planning profession there is an increased awareness that transport will only be sustainable if there is a greater focus on street planning for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as infrastructure priorities, especially the relative commitment to public transport compared to cars.


Traffic congestion in China (China Digitrends. 2011). A typical Moscow street at any time of the day (Filipponio, F. 2007).


Public transport in Auckland consists of three main modes - bus, train and ferry. Although Auckland was historically well served by public transport in the form of an extensive tram system, its dismantlement in the 1950’s along with the decision not to electrify the rail network, led to a downward spiral in both public support and use. (Auckland Transport. 2011).

However, as Auckland's population continues to grow, it is clear that better and more sustainable transport solutions are required in order to accommodate the needs of current and future generations. A number of major projects have been established in recent years to improve the effectiveness of public transport. These include small-scale initiatives such as bus priority measures and large-scale bus infrastructure projects. As a result, public transport use grew by 8.3% in a year leading up to 2011. (Auckland Transport. 2011).


The Northern Busway is New Zealand's first purpose built road dedicated to bus passenger transport, and forms a key part of Auckland's rapid transit network. Opened in 2008, it has become the spine of an extensive bus-based public transport system, linking North Shore City with Auckland CBD.

North Shore Northern Busway

Auckland’s CBD rail tunnel, improved rail capacity and the creation of several new stations has been argued the city’s most important future transport project. It will provide improved efficiency and capacity and accommodate twice as many passengers than the current facilities can. 

Auckland's current rail system, and future additions.

Despite these achievements, Auckland still ranks low in terms of public transport use. An average Auckland resident will use public transport approximately 41 times a year while an average Wellingtonian resident will use these services 91 times a year.

I am a regular user of public transport as it allows me to get to uni conveniently each day without facing the burdens that lace public roads and motorways. As a regular user it has also become clear to me that there are a number of factors that prevent Auckland’s effective public transportation systems’ from reaching their full potential.

I believe that the main issue revolves around the fact that Auckland’s public transport is not government owned and operated. MAXX Transport is a private organisation and their primary focus will clearly be on maximising profit margins, rather than providing a fully functional, integrated public transportation system. This blog will discuss the issues, solutions and case study examples that may help Auckland to realise its potential, break this habit of planning for today and not tomorrow. I will also be discussing what Auckland must do if it is to truly become the worlds most liveable city. (Auckland Council, 2011).


Ideas from:
http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/wg2/index.php?idp=182
http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/completed-projects/RapidTransit/Pages/TheNorthernBusway.aspx
http://blog.islandpress.org/author/peternewman