KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's planned 24-hour bus lanes along Queen St have won support from almost two-thirds of public submissions, despite being opposed by many retailers.
An independent analysis of 498 submissions found 64 per cent supported the council's scheme, which will restrict general traffic to one lane in each direction along much of the "Golden Mile." A brief report from the council yesterday said 35 per cent of submissions opposed the plan.
Deputy mayor and committee chairman Dr Bruce Hucker said he was not surprised by the high level of support, as he saw the proposal as "a sensible measure" consistent with the council's strategy of giving higher priorities to walking, cycling and public transport over private vehicles.
Heart of the City business group chief executive and mayoral candidate Alex Swney, who warned earlier of strong opposition to the bus lanes proposal, said yesterday that his organisation's submission would "ironically" have been counted in support of it. He said it offered support in principle, but only subject to a range of conditions including a staged implementation of the proposal.