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Nov 26, 2023Liked by J.R.Bruning

There was a very simple way that the council could have revitalised the city centre without having to spend millions on re-doing the water front or building flash museums etc. Simply make street parking free. People would have come in droves. And the council would have saved hundreds of millions of dollars. The commissioners are idiots and completely out of touch with everyday people. A good example is the recent removal of the car park next to the Strand water front blue playground. Anne Tolley says oh but there are more carparks along Dive Crescent so it doesn't matter. WRONG ANNE. That car-park was used by mothers and grandmothers with several toddlers in tow or a baby in a buggy or a baby in utero so that a pleasant morning could be spent at a very nice children's playground. Lugging two toddlers while pregnant from half way down dive crescent to the blue park is impossible. The commissioners have to go. Anne Tolly is intent on destroying our once vibrant city. No doubt like the rest of NZ mayors she is troughing from the funding handed out to mayors who comply wth UN smart city directives via the Global Covenant of Mayors. A truly dreadful woman who cares nothing for this city.

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A well-made point from a colleague - small businesses along what are referred to as ribbon developments which are central traffic corridors do need to survive, as density increases, limits on parking during peak hour. Therefore, parking should be disabled, for example, for one hour at peak times.

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Tauranga City Council are hitting pause on a number of parking initiatives across the city after concern from residents. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/27/tauranga-city-council-hits-pause-on-paid-parking-timed-bus-lanes/

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I still love Claude Leewens "market-town" ideas that nz could but doesn't implement - www.7G.nz - it's a win:win:win concept - especially with the gubberment bringing in an extra 80K immigrants/year with no houses for them to live in

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Problems fixed in the Netherlands pushed to the rest of the world by those based in Geneva and implemented by several 30 (maybe 40 is more accurate) somethng wankers (with no training) in Auckland.

That's about what it is right? As a cyclist in Dunedin, and one who has done several cycling infrustructure courses via Amsterdam, I am constantly astonished about what is put in place. It is always very poorly designed.

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Melbourne's cycleways are also crap. And having retail in thiis city (I am in Melbourne right now) I can confirm that it is down 40-60% on pre-covid levels. But the rot started a little earilier maybe 2017 or so.

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