KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's plan to displace traffic with bus lanes along Queen St faces an indefinite delay after almost 500 people or organisations felt strongly enough to send in submissions.
The council will not disclose the public's verdict before its urban strategy and governance committee receives from an independent research firm next month an analysis of the submissions.
But Heart of the City business group chief executive and mayoral candidate Alex Swney said last night that it was most unlikely to be in the council's favour, given such a large response.
"It says to me that a lot of people are deeply concerned," he said.
"As they say, your friends may vote for you but your enemies will definitely vote against you."
Whatever councillors decide next month, it will be too late for the introduction of bus lanes to coincide with the completion of the Wellesley St-Victoria St section of the $43.5 million upgrade of Queen St, which will be officially ready on August 28.
Council officers had hoped to introduce a bus lane in each direction along much of Queen St before motorists, who have had their movements severely restricted by the upgrade, regained too much of their former road space.
Bus lanes operating 24 hours a day would leave just one lane in each direction for motorists and truck drivers, who would face $150 fines for straying into them except when parking or turning down side streets.
But the officers now intend recommending to councillors next month that they defer a decision on the bus lanes until a report can be done on their potential economic impact on Queen St businesses.
That follows concern raised by a council-appointed central business district advisory board.
Council officials overseeing the upgrade could not be reached for comment but transport general manager Dr Stephen Rainbow said an impact report was likely to include more information about bus patronage.
The council estimates 40,000 people use buses along Queen St in an average 24-hour period, as opposed to about 25,800 car occupants, but a head-count done for property owner Veronica Krukziener puts daily bus patronage at just under 11,000.
At issue is whether bus lanes will draw more or fewer people to Queen St and its retail stores. The council says reducing the space available to cars and trucks will create a more conducive shopping environment.
Mr Swney said his organisation did not oppose bus lanes in principle but resented the council's attempt to "bulldoze them through" with minimal consultation and research.
The council should have listened to concerns raised as long ago as April.
