We've got legs; why don't we use them?

Too often, in Auckland, we prefer to cruise down streets in our automobiles, gazing out like the windows like detached lords.  Unfortunately, this obsession with the motor vehicle is painstakingly reflected in our very un-pedestrian friendly downtown. Nothing is worse than walking down Queen Street, and having to inhale thick exhaust fumes.

Sure, the council is responding to this situation by transforming a few of our city streets into "shared spaces," such as Derby Street and Elliot Street.

But isn't this just tinkering around the edges? Can cars and pedestrians really co-exist on the same stretch of tarmac. I think any sane human being will prefer not to be occupying the same space as a 1.5 tonne hunk of metal on wheels.

In my opinion, parts of Queen Street should be pedestrianised. This is, after all, our main street. It is certainly the busiest by a long shot.

This has been done successfully in other parts of the world.

Take the devilish city of Adelaide as a prime example. Adelaide has a similar population to Auckland.

Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2009)

Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2009)

Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2009)

These pictures show the city's main street Rundle Mall. It was pedestrianised in the 1970s, and is now a vibrant and exciting heart for the city. And guess what? No cars allowed!

Melbourne and San Francisco also have their premier streets as pedestrian areas.

Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

And in keeping with the unique flavour of these two cities, they both have their signature modes of transport running down the middle. Melbourne has its trams, while San Francisco has its cable cars.

Even Los Angeles, the supposed automobile heaven, has a few things to teach us.

Mitchell, S. C (Author) (2010)

This picture is of the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Again, its an inviting pedestrian environment.

And look at Times Square in New York. This was closed off to cars in 2009.

We are informed (2010)

So lets learn from these fine cities, and pedestrianise parts of our golden mile. Queen Street, too, could become a dynamic and exciting environment for pedestrians.

An Iconic Bridge for Auckland

The options for Auckland's second harbour crossing have been released. Turns out, building a new bridge would be cheaper than building a tunnel. No doubt, with the nation's languishing economy, this may be the deciding factor.

But what if we were to construct an icon for Auckland? A bridge that could be boasted of, all around the globe?

Take San Francisco, as an example. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the world's most recognised icons. Everyone instantly associates it with San Francisco.

Simon Mitchell (Author) (2010)

Simon Mitchell (Author) (2010)

Simon Mitchell (Author) (2010)

Sydney's Harbour Bridge is also very recognisable. Again, people instantly associate it with Sydney.

Simon Mitchell (Author) (2008)

This time we could build a bridge properly. Our current one screams of 1950's car-based thinking. A new bridge in Auckland could carry train tracks, bus lanes, walkways, and even cycleways (anything to get those annoying, lycra-wearing cyclists off the roads).

So why doesn't Auckland take this opportunity to build something great?

The ANZAC Centenary Bridge organisation has a nice idea:

ANZAC Centenary Bridge (2011)

A new bridge could really put Auckland on the map. Lets forget about slug-shaped drinking houses on our waterfront, or any other silly idea that our politicians have come up with recently.

Auckland should learn from San Francisco and Sydney - two cities on similar geographic settings.

If they can do it, why can't we?

Welcome!

What can Auckland learn from other cities?

Auckland could learn a lot. A city, lying on a stunning natural environment, should have a great urban form to match it.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Just take a walk down Hobson Street, in the central city. Its like the city council had an ambition to replicate Marxist Russia, with the feel of East Berlin.

And yet, we still insist on destroying our urban environment even more. Take the recent demolition of the art deco cottages in St Heliers, as an example.

As for public transport, please, don't get me started. A mayor, taking the train to work, while having his car driven up alongside him, is quite simply NOT going to solve Auckland's congestion issues.

So, how can we discover ways to make Auckland better?

This blog will do this by looking at cities from all around the globe, to find out just exactly what gives a city its edge. It will closely examine good, and bad examples of the urban form. It will challenge traditional planning theory, not simply be a puppet of the textbooks.

We have a lot to learn. Fancy glass skyscrapers, party houses on Queens Wharf, and giant hypodermic needles (Sky Tower), do not make Auckland a 'world class' city.

Lets make Auckland into a great city - one that draws on ideas from all corners of the globe.

I hope you enjoy reading the posts of this blog, as much as I do writing them.