8 Nov 2023

K road carparks to be ditched in hopes of better public transport

From Checkpoint, 5:07 pm on 8 November 2023

Car parks are about to vanish from the iconic K road entertainment and shopping strip, to make way for more public transport.

But some businesses are not along for the ride.

From Sunday, more buses will be travelling along Karangahape Road outside of peak hours too.

As part of the new western express connecting west and northwest Auckland to the city, buses will run the route every ten minutes.

Auckland Transport believes banning carparking at all times on K Road will mean more consistent bus trip times and help encourage more people onto public transport.

But some business say there was little consultation, the change is a shock, and they rely heavily on park and pop in customers.

But late this afternoon Auckland Transport decided to pump the brakes on changes to the bus lane operating hours and apologised for not managing the process as well as it could.

The extended bus lane hours wont come in until February next year. Karangahape road Business Association chairperson Muy Chhour, who runs the popular Lim Chhour Supermarket, speaks to Lisa Owen.