"Congestion pricing is such a good idea everywhere there is rock solid public transit alternatives. Where there’s not, it just becomes a tax on the poor."

If most of the poorer and working class road users cannot shift their transport times (and typically they can't) and then you don't have good and affordable public transport options for them to take instead then it effectively becomes a charge that the people who can't avoid it pay so that those with flexible lives can enjoy a smoother commute.

Which is to say that it might well reduce congestion but the cost of doing so is lumped on those that can least afford it, rather than those that can. As with most things its a choice of who pays for what to reach the aim. I would prefer that we increase taxes on wealthier people and fund expanded and free(er) public transport with a huge increase in safe cycling routes.

[–] Dave 11 points 1 week ago (9 children)

I think it could be argued that Auckland and Wellington have decent public transport options, and they would be the most likely place to implement congestion charges.

I wonder if you could reduce the cost of public transport using the funds raised, as an attempt to balance it.

Free public transport would be great, better if they removed the requirement to outsource and let councils or some new government entity control it.

[–] TagMeInSkipIGotThis 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've not used Auckland PT, but Wellington's is definitely decent, probably depending on where you live. I think the trains would work better if they were faster, and thus more frequent - its probably difficult to make them much bigger given the platform lengths.

Some areas the bus services are a bit borderline, but would work better with less private vehicles to contend with. And to make PT even better some smaller busses with dynamic routing (like is trialled in Heretaunga-Hawkes Bay) could be the missing link that makes cross network travel much better.

The only thing is the routing algorithm would need work because up here what's tended to happen is that they've kinda just become large subsidised taxis for individual or groups going point to point rather than a vehicle travelling across the network picking up & dropping off along the way.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah I also haven't used Auckland's but have got the impression it's not too bad these days.

I'm not convinced we can get faster trains (without significant changes) but you could have more of them which would also help the frequency thing.

I hadn't heard of dynamic routing for buses, is that a bit like airport shuttles?

[–] TagMeInSkipIGotThis 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah that’s the easiest comparison. You use an app and put your pick up & drop off points and then a bus like a big transit van will get routed past you. So it’s less predictable when you get to your destination as it might do more drop offs or pick ups. My partner used it a bit and reckoned 2/5 trips would be only her onboard and direct to work.

[–] Dave 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Nice. What kinda pricing? I presume it's got to be more expensive than a normal bus?

[–] TagMeInSkipIGotThis 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Think it wasn’t far off a normal bus fare, but it’s free to the hospital where my partner worked at the time.

[–] Dave 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh wow, that's a win. I guess it makes sense with a smaller population rather than running routes that either don't have many people or are not close enough to destinations so people don't use them.

[–] TagMeInSkipIGotThis 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

$3 anywhere within Hastings: https://www.mywayhb.nz/about-myway/

[–] Dave 2 points 1 week ago

Ah interesting, replacing certain bus routes. If they were lower demand ones they may well be saving money on it.

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