Europe the model for better urban transport

On track: public transport is a practical everyday solution for millions of Europeans. Here, light rail in Stuttgart, Germany, connects suburbs and outlying districts.

(The Press, 2007)

New Zealand cities could learn much from European public transport systems.

One of the things I love about Europe is how easy it is to get around without a car. Hop on a train and you can explore the whole continent, from big cities to tiny villages. You can whiz along at 240km/h from city to city, meander through picturesque countryside, or use the subway to visit the tourist sights.

No-one has to worry about navigating, traffic, parking or petrol. You arrive slapbang in the middle of a city - train stations are not hidden away on the city's fringes. You arrive in good shape, and on time.

For those places not connected by train, you can take the bus, bike, or even a gondola up the side of a mountain.

We tried all these modes of transport on a recent trip to Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Europe's public transport system is a joy.

By contrast, New Zealand's preferred means of getting around - the car - seems part of a hopelessly outmoded way of thinking rooted in the 1950s. Critics say we have followed the American and Australian approach to transportation, but that's not quite fair: it's better in both those countries. In Sydney, the train will whisk you from the airport to the city centre in about 20 minutes. There's even a futuristic monorail. Melbourne has a free tram that circles the inner city.

San Francisco's historic cable cars are a tourist attraction that is actually a practical means of getting around. New York City's subway has been cleaned up, and is fast and reliable. Washington DC's subway is immaculate and efficient.

And New Zealand? We seem to have ditched all development of public transport. Some railway lines have been closed. The only answer seems to be more roads. But they just get clogged with cars.

On a trip to Auckland last year, it took me longer to get from the airport to the city than it did to fly there from Christchurch. The reason: roadworks. On another occasion a friend reports having to fork out $100 for a taxi. Pilots couldn't make it back to the airport in time and flights were delayed.

By world standards, Auckland is not big. Of course this is absurd. Auckland should have had a light rail or subway decades ago.

Wellington's bus service is excellent, and there is suburban rail, although years of neglect and underinvestment following privatization have resulted in a system that is hardly world class.

Christchurch, however, is the city where big improvements could be made. Promotional images of the city often show the historic tram. A visitor from another city could be forgiven for thinking here is a handy way to get around the city. Unfortunately not. The tram looks picturesque, but doesn't go anywhere useful. It offers only a short ride for tourists. Locals don't use it.

One of the stupidest ideas has been putting bus stops in the middle of busy Hills Road. The idea is to make it easy for buses to get back into the traffic flow, but the end result is just more congestion.

The yellow, hybrid-electric city shuttle buses are a good idea, but limited. The green Orbiter buses linking suburban shopping centres have been one of the few moves that make sense. We need more.

Here are some ideas I believe would improve transport in Christchurch:

Expand the free city shuttle - perhaps introducing a minimum charge - to connect the city centre with busy streets such as Riccarton Road and Papanui Road.
Make the tram go somewhere useful: even around Hagley Park would be a start.
Reduce the needlessly wide grass berms and put in off-road cycle lanes. Put power lines underground.
Create more transport hubs, perhaps a big one close to the city centre. The central bus exchange was hopelessly overcrowded as soon as it opened.
Run tramlines along the centre of broader avenues. What a shame you can't take the tram to Sumner any more.
Expand the rail network to connect the city with outlying areas, such as Rolleston, West Melton, Rangiora and Amberley. Railway lines are already in place.

Yes, all these plans would cost money, but the benefits would be enormous: less money spent on roads, less congestion, more independent regional settlements and less sprawl. Oh, and less fuel consumed and less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Impossible? Well, they've done it in Europe for years, why not here?

[ Return to Feature Articles ]