[!ai]
Demonstrates good understanding of green transport benefits including support for park-and-ride networks, electrifying buses, reduced speed limits, and secure cycle storage. Advocates for railway electrification and inland rail hubs to reduce truck traffic.
Tēnā Koutou Devonia,
Thank you for contacting me.
Issues surrounding our green economy are central to my thinking. My household is as plastic free as possible - unfortunately cat food only comes in plastic pots - my garden is a permaculture food forest and my chickens roam free. I use an EV and a bike.
The primary impediments to green innovations lie with government policy. Council budgeting is the victim of its ideology.
But as to your concerns and what I am prepared to support:
The health benefits and time efficiencies of cycling and active commuting are well established. The cycle loop around our Harbour is popular with locals and tourists alike.
We most definitely need to get more cars off the CBD roads by establishing:
- Park and Ride networks from multi-storied parking buildings established on the periphery of the city,
- electrifying our bus fleet,
- ensuring cycleways continue to grow in popularity with such facilities as secure weatherproof cycle storage facilities at bus stops, shopping centres, and other locations in Dunedin’s CBD
The completed re-thinking of Dunedin’s George St has been hugely successful in reclaiming the area for people. Interesting how rapidly the complaints against it and the bus hub in Great King St evaporated after their completion! With only Sam Uffindell creating a local chorus of those taking a swing at the seesaw.
Speed bumps are similarly not universally welcomed by car drivers but in many cases, including Aramoana, Te Ngaru, and outside schools have successfully calmed traffic. Drivers soon adapt.
A return to safety conscious speed limits also has my support.
In my opinion, the proposed inland Railway hub sited in the Milton area (not Mosgiel) can’t happen soon enough. Another hub sited close to Palmerston would also get my support. These will take a significant amount of heavy traffic off our highways and out of Dunedin roading networks.
Electrifying the railways and re-establishing commuter trains also makes perfect sense. Re-establishing an efficient viable railroad has several benefits by reducing:
- pollution, and carbon emissions
- the cost of wear and tear on our roads
- noise, dust levels and the rattling of infrastructure including underground piping networks, heritage buildings particularly for towns such as Waihola, Port Chalmers and and Waikouaiti.
All in all, reducing the attractiveness of petrol powered vehicles would along way to safely and healthily returning the streets and paths to citizens and cyclists.
Please let me know your thoughts on how the Octagon, Princes St and George St might be improved. I also welcome your input on ways to increase the uptake of our cycleways.
Nāku nā,
Marian Poole