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[threemonkeys]

Back in July 06, I posted this entry about some "hitching post" signs that Hutt City Council had put up in Maungaraki to encourage ride sharing. The signs are still there although some are a bit the worse for wear.

Why do I mention this? Because yesterday, for the very first time, I actually saw somebody trying to hitch a ride under one.

I would have picked him up too, but he was under the "Hutt Central" sign and I was on my way to the airport. Yep, yesterday I went to Auckland for a meeting. Not that big a deal except that some bright spark at work has figured out that it is cheaper to hire a car for a day than it is to take taxis to and from the airport to our work site in Auckland. (it is true in Welly too actually). So I pick the car up from Hertz and head out for a place I've never been to before in an area I have never been to before and I'm running late because the flight was delayed. Then I take a wrong turning.

Wasn't a problem though. I made it to where I was going with minutes to spare before the clients arrived. What I realised, is that while I don't know Auckland very well, as long as I can keep myself oriented relative to Manukau (i.e. city centre) then I pretty much know where I'm going. I knew Manukau had to have some use.

Comments

[callie]

I have to say I'm a little unconvinced by those signs, nice idea though they may be. I'd never try hitching to work as a matter of course, simply because it's unreliable - even with a relatively flexible start time, trying to get into town by 8:30 is completely different to the last time I really hitchiked which was "three weeks in the South Island, see some of it, end up in Christchurch". Then again, I suppose it is a bit chicken and egg; maybe if more people use them more rides will be offered.

[threemonkeys]

The signs in Maunkaraki are close to the bus stops. My understanding is that its done this way so that if you can't get a lift, you are set up to catch the bus. This makes more sense when you know that the buses in Maungaraki aren't all that frequent and if you want to get to anywhere useful, you will have to change at least one.

[callie]

Okay, that does make some more sense from the personal convenience perspective. I'd assume that unless/until it took off it would only be people who would otherwise go by bus. I wonder if they were assuming it would make enough difference to tempt people out of their cars, and therefore impact on pollution/congestion, or if it was done mostly for personal convenience of commuters, which is noble but surprising.

[threemonkeys]

The story goes that this was instigated by a HCC councilor resident of the suburb who had on occasion stopped to offer people at bus stops lifts into town. These random acts turned into a regular carpool arrangement. He wanted to see if he could encourage others into similar carpooling. It was a cheap experiment - under $1k I believe.