A bus route on Auckland’s Waiheke Island has been axed because of safety concerns
Auckland Transport has removed a bus route from Waiheke Island amid concerns for driver and passenger safety.
Auckland Transport has released its decision on changes to Bus Route 1A: Onetangi to Matiatia via Waiheke Rd and Sea View Rd, according to a statement on the organisation’s website.
Bus service 1a will continue to service Waiheke Rd then travel to Matiatia Bay via Onetangi Rd and Ostend Rd and the changes are effective immediately.
In making the decision Auckland Transport road safety engineers visited Waiheke Island to evaluate the road and transport planners also rode a bus to assess the suitability of Sea View Rd and Waiheke Rd.
A significant section of Sea View Rd is unsafe for buses to travel along.
The blind corners and narrow width of road in this section puts drivers and passengers at risk from collisions from vehicles travelling in the other direction and risky manoeuvres are said to occur frequently that sometimes involve buses having to reverse to allow opposing vehicles to pass.
Low passenger numbers along Sea View Rd also support this decision.
Consultation on the proposal to remove bus services was carried out earlier this year