Most Aucklanders against bus-lane fines, survey shows

Photo / Steven McNicholl

Auckland City Council's policy of fining motorists $150 for driving more than 50m in a bus lane is not supported by more than half the wider Auckland population, according to a Herald-DigiPoll survey.

A total of 56.2 per cent of respondents do not approve of the policy, which has led to 41,169 bus lane infringement notices worth almost $6.2 million issued in the year to June.

The policy has 38.1 per cent support with 5.7 per cent of "don't knows".

Also, 70.9 per cent of people think bus lanes should be more heavily labelled.

Since the survey of 768 Aucklanders last Wednesday, the council has begun installing new signs and markers on some bus lanes.

It has refused to say where on its 36km network of bus lanes it will put the signs.

The backlash against bus lane infringements has spilled over into the Super City elections after it was revealed that Auckland City Mayor and Super City mayoral candidate John Banks and his Citizens & Ratepayers allies set out to raise $12 million more in bus lane and parking fines this term to hold down rates.

Mr Banks, who criticised his predecessor Dick Hubbard for "water price gouging" by taking profits from the council water company to hold down rates, has rebutted claims by Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee of bus lane "revenue gouging".

"If bus lanes are used almost as a form of entrapment for revenue, it puts the credibility and popularity of public transport in question, and that's bad for everyone," said Mr Lee.

"What I'm concerned about is a backlash against bus lanes if they are used in a kind of Sheriff of Nottingham way to raise revenue from commuting motorists," added Mr Lee, who is campaigning for a seat on the Super City council.

Mr Banks said he did not intend responding to "candidate Lee's politicking", but claimed wide support for the bus lanes on the basis that 98 per cent of drivers kept out of them.

The other heavyweight contender for the Super City mayoralty, Len Brown, has said the 41,000 fines for bus lane infringement were appalling.