TRAFFIC IN QUEEN STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 7

TRAFFIC IN QUEEN STREET.

_ Sir.. —The latest decision of the City Council regarding buses in Queen Street is a hardship -on the users of the bus, and also an unfair method of hitting at their less powerful rival, as it is genuinely understood by the man in the street that this is a defence for the tramway policy of the council. The bus causes less congestion than either the tram or the numerous private cars that stop along the route while their owners are shopping, etc. In overlooking private cars and prohibiting buses the council has not acted in an enlightened manner. The result of this new edict means that the man with a car has the right to the road and the one dependent on the bus must, walk from and to Prince's Wharf or Market Square. Considering that the bus has opened up roads and districts which will eventually swell the cityarea, the least thing the council could do would be to give them fail* treatment. Impatient Sufferer. Sir, —I was surprised to see in the Herald that the City Council had decided to stop motor-buses coming into Queen Street. Hg.d it stopped the trams (for this will have to come soon) there would have been some sense in it. as they are, without, doubt, the aoisest cars in the world. Anyone arriving in the city just before 9 a.m. cannot fail to notice the number of cars held up by Customs Street. I have often counted 20 or 30 as far up as Shortland Street. Why does not the fpuncil send the western cars down Albert Street, along the waterfront back into Queen Street, and up Customs Street again, and the eastern cars down Symonds Street, Anzac Avenue (and when the Railway Station is moved), across there and along the waterfront into Queen Street and Customs Street East, which would prevent any holding up. The present system is most antiquated and should be done away with. Then I would suggest a few motorbuses for Queen Street enly for the benefit of people wishing to catch boats and trains, and elderly' people who cannot walk the distance. As far as buses are concerned, the council may rest assured that they have come to stay and are a great benefit to the travelling public. I am sure there is room for both tram and bus. „ Ratepayer.

Sir,—The City Council's decision to exclude buses from Queen Street is a very wise move but does not go far enough. Why not exclude tramcars and even motor tracks ? Then those notorious safety zone.; could be removed, to great advantage. Queen Street is all too congested "and a positive danger to pedestrians. Why prohibit only the buses—why not leave the buses and remove the tram and then the centre poles as well as tho safety zones could be removed with still greater advantage? If the council tackled the question broadly and wisely it would bar everything in Queen Street except ordinary motor-car and pedestrian traffic. And what aa improvement would be effected! Indeed the time is fast approaching when everything must be excluded from Queen Street except pedestrian traffic. Mr. Hogan, the chief traffic inspector, has shown great foresight and ability in dealing with Auckland's traffic problem since it virtually got out of bounds or tended to until he tackled it in a masterful way. Now let him wipe everything out of Queen Street, except motor-cars, and be done with the job for the time being. If this was done he could dispense with about eight traffic inspectors. The public would soon get used to the new order of things. Safety Fibst.