Roeland
@roelandschks.bsky.social
Auckland suburbanite and former urbanite.
got an old school blog thing. https://wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/
got an old school blog thing. https://wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/
And that was half a century ago, I wonder if your average suburban street today has any such lines at all.
This chart has a companion, home zones, which explains such questions as:
- Why can’t you raise children in a modern city
- Why are apartments an inferior option to a house
etc.
This chart has a companion, home zones, which explains such questions as:
- Why can’t you raise children in a modern city
- Why are apartments an inferior option to a house
etc.
June 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
And that was half a century ago, I wonder if your average suburban street today has any such lines at all.
This chart has a companion, home zones, which explains such questions as:
- Why can’t you raise children in a modern city
- Why are apartments an inferior option to a house
etc.
This chart has a companion, home zones, which explains such questions as:
- Why can’t you raise children in a modern city
- Why are apartments an inferior option to a house
etc.
The countours on GeoMaps show that the office park on the other side of the motorway is similarly low lying. But it is apparently protected from flooding by the motorway, which is somewhat higher than the surrounding plain.
June 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
The countours on GeoMaps show that the office park on the other side of the motorway is similarly low lying. But it is apparently protected from flooding by the motorway, which is somewhat higher than the surrounding plain.
Any local can tell you the answer. Not really. When cyclone Gabrielle hit us, the intersection at the top of that image was under a metre of water.
Here’s the same area on the Auckland Council Flood Viewer.
Here’s the same area on the Auckland Council Flood Viewer.
June 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Any local can tell you the answer. Not really. When cyclone Gabrielle hit us, the intersection at the top of that image was under a metre of water.
Here’s the same area on the Auckland Council Flood Viewer.
Here’s the same area on the Auckland Council Flood Viewer.
Why not put a golf course right next to a rapid transit, and put the new town centre all the way out in Albany?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
June 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Why not put a golf course right next to a rapid transit, and put the new town centre all the way out in Albany?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
btw holding income of $75k pa? That seems like… not a lot for such a site.
June 11, 2025 at 9:50 AM
btw holding income of $75k pa? That seems like… not a lot for such a site.
The thing local buses do there always struck me as weird. They have to do this little loop onto the busway to reach the local bus platforms. And why do we even have those? Can’t buses go around the block via The Avenue and stop there? That seems at least a bit less slow, and would take up less land.
June 9, 2025 at 4:08 AM
The thing local buses do there always struck me as weird. They have to do this little loop onto the busway to reach the local bus platforms. And why do we even have those? Can’t buses go around the block via The Avenue and stop there? That seems at least a bit less slow, and would take up less land.
Neighbourhood of Smales Farm station. Google Maps, and Auckland Council GeoMaps.
Notice anything missing on the latter?
Notice anything missing on the latter?
June 9, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Neighbourhood of Smales Farm station. Google Maps, and Auckland Council GeoMaps.
Notice anything missing on the latter?
Notice anything missing on the latter?
The lane next to Nelson Street, with the Sugartree apartment complex on the left. Google Streetview, 2019 and 2022. Spot the difference.
June 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The lane next to Nelson Street, with the Sugartree apartment complex on the left. Google Streetview, 2019 and 2022. Spot the difference.
Bonus entry: panoramic view from Verran Corner, one of the highest points in the landscape in the area.
Except they put a fkn fuel station in the way.
Except they put a fkn fuel station in the way.
June 2, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Bonus entry: panoramic view from Verran Corner, one of the highest points in the landscape in the area.
Except they put a fkn fuel station in the way.
Except they put a fkn fuel station in the way.
Collection of hills seen as you go down Eskdale Road. You start at almost 100m of elevation and you go down to 20m. In the distance to the left you can see (I think) the Waitakere ranges, and Greenhite to the right.
June 2, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Collection of hills seen as you go down Eskdale Road. You start at almost 100m of elevation and you go down to 20m. In the distance to the left you can see (I think) the Waitakere ranges, and Greenhite to the right.
View of the city, from Coronation Road.
This is how, back in 2020, I noticed the roof of the then under construction convention centre was on fire.
This is how, back in 2020, I noticed the roof of the then under construction convention centre was on fire.
June 2, 2025 at 4:58 AM
View of the city, from Coronation Road.
This is how, back in 2020, I noticed the roof of the then under construction convention centre was on fire.
This is how, back in 2020, I noticed the roof of the then under construction convention centre was on fire.
Morning fog rolling in over the Upper Harbour, seen from Verbena Road.
June 2, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Morning fog rolling in over the Upper Harbour, seen from Verbena Road.
School zone in Takapuna. The standard for school zones used to be 40 km/h, with a lot of qualifications.
But at least they still have their 30 km/h on The Terrace.
But at least they still have their 30 km/h on The Terrace.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
School zone in Takapuna. The standard for school zones used to be 40 km/h, with a lot of qualifications.
But at least they still have their 30 km/h on The Terrace.
But at least they still have their 30 km/h on The Terrace.
Picture of Lake Pupuke just because I can.
Auckland would genuinely be a better city to live in if cycling were more normalized.
Auckland would genuinely be a better city to live in if cycling were more normalized.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Picture of Lake Pupuke just because I can.
Auckland would genuinely be a better city to live in if cycling were more normalized.
Auckland would genuinely be a better city to live in if cycling were more normalized.
But car drivers can’t. Driving is too high stakes to look around for pictures, and cars are too big to easily pull over without being a major nuisance.
But, at least there was free flowing motorway traffic that day, so they enjoyed by far the quickest commute.
But, at least there was free flowing motorway traffic that day, so they enjoyed by far the quickest commute.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
But car drivers can’t. Driving is too high stakes to look around for pictures, and cars are too big to easily pull over without being a major nuisance.
But, at least there was free flowing motorway traffic that day, so they enjoyed by far the quickest commute.
But, at least there was free flowing motorway traffic that day, so they enjoyed by far the quickest commute.
We continue to Takapuna. As we cross the Glenfield Road ridge, the view on the harbour opens up.
I’m on a bicycle, so I’m free to take pictures. A perk shared with pedestrians (obviously) and bus passengers (which is why you often see pictures of the city taken from the Harbour Bridge)
I’m on a bicycle, so I’m free to take pictures. A perk shared with pedestrians (obviously) and bus passengers (which is why you often see pictures of the city taken from the Harbour Bridge)
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
We continue to Takapuna. As we cross the Glenfield Road ridge, the view on the harbour opens up.
I’m on a bicycle, so I’m free to take pictures. A perk shared with pedestrians (obviously) and bus passengers (which is why you often see pictures of the city taken from the Harbour Bridge)
I’m on a bicycle, so I’m free to take pictures. A perk shared with pedestrians (obviously) and bus passengers (which is why you often see pictures of the city taken from the Harbour Bridge)
We do one thing well: ‘permeability’ for pedestrians and cyclists. We cross a passage guarded by bollards, and continue to Roseberry avenue.
Looking back, we now have signs there too. (as well as down at Castleton Street). And they are 30, rather than the old school 40. So we still got a small win.
Looking back, we now have signs there too. (as well as down at Castleton Street). And they are 30, rather than the old school 40. So we still got a small win.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
We do one thing well: ‘permeability’ for pedestrians and cyclists. We cross a passage guarded by bollards, and continue to Roseberry avenue.
Looking back, we now have signs there too. (as well as down at Castleton Street). And they are 30, rather than the old school 40. So we still got a small win.
Looking back, we now have signs there too. (as well as down at Castleton Street). And they are 30, rather than the old school 40. So we still got a small win.
Down at the school, we encounter the old style school zone sign, with all the text describing times of the day. And then the school.
The temporary nature here is kinda dumb, with all the parked cars you’d be a fool to drive much faster than 30km/h anyway.
The temporary nature here is kinda dumb, with all the parked cars you’d be a fool to drive much faster than 30km/h anyway.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Down at the school, we encounter the old style school zone sign, with all the text describing times of the day. And then the school.
The temporary nature here is kinda dumb, with all the parked cars you’d be a fool to drive much faster than 30km/h anyway.
The temporary nature here is kinda dumb, with all the parked cars you’d be a fool to drive much faster than 30km/h anyway.
Auckland is hilly, and one of the perks of hilly cities is vistas.
With a modicum of urban planning competence — parks and terminating vistas in the right place —Auckland could be *amazing*.
Here, a street acts like a mini viewshaft. Can you spot Highbury, and the Sky Tower?
With a modicum of urban planning competence — parks and terminating vistas in the right place —Auckland could be *amazing*.
Here, a street acts like a mini viewshaft. Can you spot Highbury, and the Sky Tower?
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Auckland is hilly, and one of the perks of hilly cities is vistas.
With a modicum of urban planning competence — parks and terminating vistas in the right place —Auckland could be *amazing*.
Here, a street acts like a mini viewshaft. Can you spot Highbury, and the Sky Tower?
With a modicum of urban planning competence — parks and terminating vistas in the right place —Auckland could be *amazing*.
Here, a street acts like a mini viewshaft. Can you spot Highbury, and the Sky Tower?
Of course, any competent city council would just have a zone 30 in this entire area of small streets.
But I digress, back to the topic at hand.
But I digress, back to the topic at hand.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Of course, any competent city council would just have a zone 30 in this entire area of small streets.
But I digress, back to the topic at hand.
But I digress, back to the topic at hand.
Where are we?
We are on Verran Road, going down to the school at the end.
Located between 3 cul de sacs, it sees a lot of foot traffic. A formal 30km/h speed limit would be welcome but presumably someone mentioned ‘school’ during the consultation so AT felt the need to roll it back to 50.
We are on Verran Road, going down to the school at the end.
Located between 3 cul de sacs, it sees a lot of foot traffic. A formal 30km/h speed limit would be welcome but presumably someone mentioned ‘school’ during the consultation so AT felt the need to roll it back to 50.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Where are we?
We are on Verran Road, going down to the school at the end.
Located between 3 cul de sacs, it sees a lot of foot traffic. A formal 30km/h speed limit would be welcome but presumably someone mentioned ‘school’ during the consultation so AT felt the need to roll it back to 50.
We are on Verran Road, going down to the school at the end.
Located between 3 cul de sacs, it sees a lot of foot traffic. A formal 30km/h speed limit would be welcome but presumably someone mentioned ‘school’ during the consultation so AT felt the need to roll it back to 50.
A commute in Auckland, in pictures.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
A commute in Auckland, in pictures.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
An alternative interpretation is that this is just how Auckland is meant to be, all this woke stuff is finally blowing over and if you don’t like it you can move overseas.
To anyone from Auckland Council does not think so: reminder that actions speak louder than words.
To anyone from Auckland Council does not think so: reminder that actions speak louder than words.
May 16, 2025 at 3:32 AM
An alternative interpretation is that this is just how Auckland is meant to be, all this woke stuff is finally blowing over and if you don’t like it you can move overseas.
To anyone from Auckland Council does not think so: reminder that actions speak louder than words.
To anyone from Auckland Council does not think so: reminder that actions speak louder than words.
But credit where credit’s due, it does look as bleak in real life as on that render.
May 5, 2025 at 1:22 AM
But credit where credit’s due, it does look as bleak in real life as on that render.