Reunited by trans-Tasman bubble and the $600k roundabout that got built twice

If a bus is empty, why run it? "Build it and they will come" is a line used by politicians and bureaucrats in Auckland reflecting on the success of major, big-ticket transport infrastructure the failure to lure more Hobsonville Point residents out of their cars into the prolific public transport on offer is typical of a transport challenge yet to be properly confronted - getting people out of cars.]( [Hobsonville Point is the largest residential development]( the country, nearing 2,600 completed homes on the road to 4,500 on a former air force base and designed to model higher density, environment-friendly living with parks, walk and cycleways and a big investment in public transport. On the weekday analysed by Stuff, the 107 bus services that start or finish at the ferry terminal on the eastern tip of the development, carried 180 people within Hobsonville Point – nearly half of them students travelling to or from local schools. Forty-three of the services on routes 112 and 114 travelled the 2.5kms through Hobsonville Point, empty. Despite those services being free of charge for travellers using ferries to downtown that they connect to, most opt to drive the few kilometres from their homes, rather than bus. It is a lot of climate-damaging carbon being pumped out to little effect, while [Auckland’s transport emissions need to be cut]( an estimated 64 per cent if climate change pledges to halve 2016 emission levels by 2030, are to be honoured. The Point’s weekday buses currently pump out around 209 kilos of carbon emissions. with electric shuttle services]( in a costly and poorly thought-through trial in Devonport, but a simple version of electric vehicles running a continuous loop service could be an answer. Beyond re-using those existing vehicles in new [lower-tech trials in southern Auckland]( year, there is no sign yet of bolder plans. Read more from Todd Niall here [Read more]( [Felicity and Verne Wilson have been separated for weeks while they both go through cancer treatment.]( [Felicity Wilson and her husband Verne,]( are among many Kiwis and Aussies who have faced lengthy separation due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, but the [announcement of the trans-Tasman travel bubble]( the couple can finally be together. It also means they can each now fight their cancer battles side by side. [Auckland Festival of Photography 2021: Covid-19 inspires theme of isolation]( [Government and Auckland Council spend $600k building roundabout - twice]( [Manager of early childhood centres falsified staff records to increase funding]( [Football brotherhood: Auckland football club has seven sets of siblings]( You've received this email because you have opted in to receive Your Auckland from Stuff Did a friend forward this to you? [Sign up to get Your Auckland]( to your inbox [Unsubscribe]( [Newsletter Settings]( [Privacy Policy]( [Advertise]( [Feedback](