Posts by stephen walker
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as someone who has been cycle commuting for almost 10 years (in Tokyo), i pretty much agree with everything David has written. i would just add a few minor points:
1. i suspect the 15k/h average speed is a bit high. i used to commute 20km each way, and i go quite fast (on a cross country bike not a road bike, so not that fast), but i still took a bit under an hour. my current commute of 17km takes about 50-55 mins. i would suggest that less aggressive (more relaxed) commuters would average 12k/h or so.
2. sunshine isn't important, imo. what you need is moderate temps and hopefully no rain and little wind.
3. good bike parking facilities and shower facilities for those who get sweaty are important.
4. NZ needs more choices in types of bikes available. commuter bikes that are not road bikes (racing bikes) or mountain bikes, bikes that can be fitted with good child seats (Hamax, Topeak, etc.), electric assist bikes, Japanese mama-chari-style bikes, etc.
5. A lot of people will only want to cycle commute a two or three of times a week rahter than every day. i used to cycle to work twice a week. so public transport options are important too.
6. cycle tracks through parks and along rivers are the best. people will really enjoy it once they try.
7. maybe some subsidies for certain types of equipment would be in order (lights, rain gear, helmets, etc.)?cheers!
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Do they not have an "NZTA Economic Evaluation Manual used for rail projects"?
no.
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from the Orsman article:
Said Mr Ford: "It was always clear that further spending was likely at a later stage, but the level of future expense, timing and prioritisation are issues for the council to decide."
Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay said there was no cost blowout with IT.
He said the $450 million figure in the budget was for IT spending over 10 years, whereas the $126 million figure used by Mr Hide was for a day-to-day system developed by the transition agency and implemented over two years.
The projected $450 million over the next eight years, he said, would go into the council's long-term plan next year and be subject to consultation.
Mr McKay said the council would be "all ears" to IT experts and all projects would include a business case.
so they aren't actually contractually committed to spending the $450 million? which is it?
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i think Ben Wilson might enjoy that Atlantic article.
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so let me ask, if ATA and its consultants have contractually committed Auckland Council to $300 million of expenditure on what should have cost no more than $50-$100 million, then are they not corrupt, even if the persons concerned have not accepted bribes or kickbacks? how can such contracts remain legally binding when the processes through which they were entered into are so questionable? are there no standards at all? can ratepayers file for a judicial review of the contracts?
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you think these suit-wearing theives will let some upstart bloggers threaten their $300 million fleecing operation? who needs corporate auditors when you've got these fine, upstanding mega-scammers?
all completely in order, nothing to see here.
move along, no (De)loit(t)ering, please. -
Hard News: Someone has to be accountable…, in reply to Cassandra,
well said, Cassandra.
the whole amalgamation from day one has been a scam.
all they needed to do was to revamp ARC/ARTA and some other regional bodies, give the new body additional powers, and mandate it to buy certain assets from the local councils. what they did instead was a total scam. any Auckland ratepayer who votes for National or Act is the quintessential idiot. -
Human landscapes in SW Florida
boston.com
(26 photos total) -
Hard News: People Take Drugs, in reply to Bart Janssen,
eating cheese is good for you
raw milk. dairy products made with raw milk are good.
the stuff made with heat-treated milk is not so good.
can we have decriminalisation of raw milk too, please? -
so, can someone please wheel out Goff and install Cunliffe as Labour leader? please? please!!!!