Roeland
@roelandschks.bsky.social
Auckland suburbanite and former urbanite.
got an old school blog thing. https://wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/
got an old school blog thing. https://wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/
We'll have to tap the sign again.
Most of these arterials are 20.1m wide (for some unfathomable reason, those arterials aren't wider than the smallest residential streets, which also tend to be 20.1 m)
Basically, if you try to fit in everything, it gets really tight.
Most of these arterials are 20.1m wide (for some unfathomable reason, those arterials aren't wider than the smallest residential streets, which also tend to be 20.1 m)
Basically, if you try to fit in everything, it gets really tight.
August 21, 2026 at 6:03 AM
We'll have to tap the sign again.
Most of these arterials are 20.1m wide (for some unfathomable reason, those arterials aren't wider than the smallest residential streets, which also tend to be 20.1 m)
Basically, if you try to fit in everything, it gets really tight.
Most of these arterials are 20.1m wide (for some unfathomable reason, those arterials aren't wider than the smallest residential streets, which also tend to be 20.1 m)
Basically, if you try to fit in everything, it gets really tight.
And look, this bit of single family zoning doesn’t look like much, but it is more than a km wide. Apartments built on the far side will have no easy access on foot to the city centre.
It will act as a hard boundary on where high density development will not suck.
It will act as a hard boundary on where high density development will not suck.
June 8, 2026 at 12:53 AM
And look, this bit of single family zoning doesn’t look like much, but it is more than a km wide. Apartments built on the far side will have no easy access on foot to the city centre.
It will act as a hard boundary on where high density development will not suck.
It will act as a hard boundary on where high density development will not suck.
The 1970s oil shock wasn’t something that came and went. It was a transition: from cheap oil to unpredictably more expensive oil.
Cheap oil kinda came back in the 1990, maybe that is why that decade is remembered as good times.
Cheap oil kinda came back in the 1990, maybe that is why that decade is remembered as good times.
Excellent summary, and evidenced reasons to be chueerful, by @mliebreich.bsky.social
about.bnef.com/insights/cle...
about.bnef.com/insights/cle...
June 7, 2026 at 11:26 PM
The 1970s oil shock wasn’t something that came and went. It was a transition: from cheap oil to unpredictably more expensive oil.
Cheap oil kinda came back in the 1990, maybe that is why that decade is remembered as good times.
Cheap oil kinda came back in the 1990, maybe that is why that decade is remembered as good times.
It is often said that, for transport planning, car pooling is a very dead horse and we should stop beating it.
However: what do we spot on our mode share pie chart?
“Car passenger”, a slice almost half as large as the public transport slice. That isn't large but it is also not insignificant.
However: what do we spot on our mode share pie chart?
“Car passenger”, a slice almost half as large as the public transport slice. That isn't large but it is also not insignificant.
April 18, 2026 at 7:52 AM
It is often said that, for transport planning, car pooling is a very dead horse and we should stop beating it.
However: what do we spot on our mode share pie chart?
“Car passenger”, a slice almost half as large as the public transport slice. That isn't large but it is also not insignificant.
However: what do we spot on our mode share pie chart?
“Car passenger”, a slice almost half as large as the public transport slice. That isn't large but it is also not insignificant.
Here we go poisoning the well for higher density development for another generation.
Having a school of 900 pupils between a not yet finished road and a soon to be one-laned road is completely nuts.
And yeah you can go bicycles bla bla but don't forget 5 year olds have to make it there.
Having a school of 900 pupils between a not yet finished road and a soon to be one-laned road is completely nuts.
And yeah you can go bicycles bla bla but don't forget 5 year olds have to make it there.
Weird, I thought private companies were always more efficient and cost effective at service delivery?
Auckland school run chaos leaves 'hundreds late' to class www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/592...
Auckland school run chaos leaves 'hundreds late' to class www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/592...
Auckland school run chaos leaves 'hundreds late' to class
A principal of an Auckland school is frustrated that nothing has been done to fix the traffic chaos at one of the country's fastest growing suburbs.
www.rnz.co.nz
April 14, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Here we go poisoning the well for higher density development for another generation.
Having a school of 900 pupils between a not yet finished road and a soon to be one-laned road is completely nuts.
And yeah you can go bicycles bla bla but don't forget 5 year olds have to make it there.
Having a school of 900 pupils between a not yet finished road and a soon to be one-laned road is completely nuts.
And yeah you can go bicycles bla bla but don't forget 5 year olds have to make it there.
@nerdland.be als je compact een camera achter zo een bijenhotel wil hangen en je wil meer afstand, kan je de lens zijdelings monteren met een spiegel op een hoek van 45°.
April 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM
@nerdland.be als je compact een camera achter zo een bijenhotel wil hangen en je wil meer afstand, kan je de lens zijdelings monteren met een spiegel op een hoek van 45°.
Imagine how much more appealing electric cars would have been 20 years ago.
We would still have been able to make them without giant touch screens, without the threat of OTA updates taking away features, without subscriptions, and all the other trappings of this past decade that ruin products.
We would still have been able to make them without giant touch screens, without the threat of OTA updates taking away features, without subscriptions, and all the other trappings of this past decade that ruin products.
April 9, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Imagine how much more appealing electric cars would have been 20 years ago.
We would still have been able to make them without giant touch screens, without the threat of OTA updates taking away features, without subscriptions, and all the other trappings of this past decade that ruin products.
We would still have been able to make them without giant touch screens, without the threat of OTA updates taking away features, without subscriptions, and all the other trappings of this past decade that ruin products.
This time on the Wrong Side of My Car: Let’s create urban villages, North Shore edition.
Takapuna *should be* in the lead. But it is crippled by its insistence of keeping parking lots in the most awkward positions.
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/03/lets...
Takapuna *should be* in the lead. But it is crippled by its insistence of keeping parking lots in the most awkward positions.
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/03/lets...
Let’s create urban villages, North Shore edition
So, time for the North shore edition. I’ve written about a few opportunities before, and unfortunately here as well, during the life time o...
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com
April 8, 2026 at 12:01 AM
This time on the Wrong Side of My Car: Let’s create urban villages, North Shore edition.
Takapuna *should be* in the lead. But it is crippled by its insistence of keeping parking lots in the most awkward positions.
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/03/lets...
Takapuna *should be* in the lead. But it is crippled by its insistence of keeping parking lots in the most awkward positions.
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/03/lets...
Fun fact: Birkenhead, Verrans Corner, and the entire stretch of road in between have a higher elevation than the top of the harbour bridge arch.
The road between Birkenhead and Verrans Corner has an elevation between 80 and 100 m which seems inconvenient.
February 4, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Fun fact: Birkenhead, Verrans Corner, and the entire stretch of road in between have a higher elevation than the top of the harbour bridge arch.
Today, on the Wrong Side of My Car: Let’s Create an Urban Lane. Who is better at getting it done? Auckland Council, or private businesses?
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/02/lets...
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/02/lets...
Let’s create urban villages, city centre edition
I have written before about the weird, lumpy population density of Auckland City . This is still the case, here is a similar map, from Cens...
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Today, on the Wrong Side of My Car: Let’s Create an Urban Lane. Who is better at getting it done? Auckland Council, or private businesses?
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/02/lets...
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2026/02/lets...
From thespinoff.co.nz/society/23-0...
This is one of those things that is obvious once it is spelled out. I would love architects and developers to take note. I strongly suspect so-called “ugly” buildings are ugly, because it is aggressively obvious that nobody cared about their exteriors.
This is one of those things that is obvious once it is spelled out. I would love architects and developers to take note. I strongly suspect so-called “ugly” buildings are ugly, because it is aggressively obvious that nobody cared about their exteriors.
Brighter isn’t always better: How lighting plays a crucial role in making cities feel safe
Good lighting is the difference between a public space you want to be in, and one you avoid.
thespinoff.co.nz
June 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
From thespinoff.co.nz/society/23-0...
This is one of those things that is obvious once it is spelled out. I would love architects and developers to take note. I strongly suspect so-called “ugly” buildings are ugly, because it is aggressively obvious that nobody cared about their exteriors.
This is one of those things that is obvious once it is spelled out. I would love architects and developers to take note. I strongly suspect so-called “ugly” buildings are ugly, because it is aggressively obvious that nobody cared about their exteriors.
Why not put a golf course right next to a rapid transit, and put the new town centre all the way out in Albany?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
June 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Why not put a golf course right next to a rapid transit, and put the new town centre all the way out in Albany?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
That decision did not age super well.
Can we turn this area into ‘town centre’ though?
Neighbourhood of Smales Farm station. Google Maps, and Auckland Council GeoMaps.
Notice anything missing on the latter?
Notice anything missing on the latter?
June 9, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Neighbourhood of Smales Farm station. Google Maps, and Auckland Council GeoMaps.
Notice anything missing on the latter?
Notice anything missing on the latter?
The lane next to Nelson Street, with the Sugartree apartment complex on the left. Google Streetview, 2019 and 2022. Spot the difference.
June 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The lane next to Nelson Street, with the Sugartree apartment complex on the left. Google Streetview, 2019 and 2022. Spot the difference.
A few more random vistas from the area around Birkenhead.
(1) spot the top of the Sky Tower, from Verran Road.
(1) spot the top of the Sky Tower, from Verran Road.
Auckland is hilly, and one of the perks of hilly cities is vistas.
With a modicum of urban planning competence — parks and terminating vistas in the right place —Auckland could be *amazing*.
Here, a street acts like a mini viewshaft. Can you spot Highbury, and the Sky Tower?
With a modicum of urban planning competence — parks and terminating vistas in the right place —Auckland could be *amazing*.
Here, a street acts like a mini viewshaft. Can you spot Highbury, and the Sky Tower?
June 2, 2025 at 4:58 AM
A few more random vistas from the area around Birkenhead.
(1) spot the top of the Sky Tower, from Verran Road.
(1) spot the top of the Sky Tower, from Verran Road.
A commute in Auckland, in pictures.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
A commute in Auckland, in pictures.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
I noticed the rollback of the speed limit changes in Auckland is now underway. The street to our local school has been reverted to 50km/h.
Look at this motorway gantry sign: you can now answer two questions about our traffic rules:
- left hand traffic or right hand traffic?
- keep [left/right] unless passing, or pick any lane?
- left hand traffic or right hand traffic?
- keep [left/right] unless passing, or pick any lane?
April 21, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Look at this motorway gantry sign: you can now answer two questions about our traffic rules:
- left hand traffic or right hand traffic?
- keep [left/right] unless passing, or pick any lane?
- left hand traffic or right hand traffic?
- keep [left/right] unless passing, or pick any lane?
New blog post, wherein we wonder if you can be both an urbanist and a parent. Is that possible, or do you have to choose?
(and yes, we’re stretching the definition of ‘suitable for kids’ quite a bit here)
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2025/04/city...
(and yes, we’re stretching the definition of ‘suitable for kids’ quite a bit here)
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2025/04/city...
April 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
New blog post, wherein we wonder if you can be both an urbanist and a parent. Is that possible, or do you have to choose?
(and yes, we’re stretching the definition of ‘suitable for kids’ quite a bit here)
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2025/04/city...
(and yes, we’re stretching the definition of ‘suitable for kids’ quite a bit here)
wrongsideofmycar.blogspot.com/2025/04/city...
“21th day of railway strikes this year [in Belgium]”
It is April. That is on average more than one day per week.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...
It is April. That is on average more than one day per week.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...
21e stakingsdag van het jaar bij het spoor gestart: 7 op de 10 IC-treinen rijden
www.vrt.be
April 14, 2025 at 10:23 PM
“21th day of railway strikes this year [in Belgium]”
It is April. That is on average more than one day per week.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...
It is April. That is on average more than one day per week.
www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...
I think this video by @nerd4cities.bsky.social captures pretty well the vibes in Auckland… somewhere around 2017. We used to have a certain level of forward momentum. Better things to look forward to.
How times change.
How times change.
Always good to get a visitor’s view, especially from such a seasoned city-understander. @nerd4cities.bsky.social visits Tāmaki, and has views:
youtu.be/bqerH0hF2mA?...
youtu.be/bqerH0hF2mA?...
I Went to New Zealand, and I Have Thoughts
YouTube video by Ray Delahanty | CityNerd
youtu.be
April 10, 2025 at 3:50 AM
I think this video by @nerd4cities.bsky.social captures pretty well the vibes in Auckland… somewhere around 2017. We used to have a certain level of forward momentum. Better things to look forward to.
How times change.
How times change.
Opportunities in Auckland
April 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Opportunities in Auckland
Some say it is difficult to still expand our motorway network, but in reality we are leaving an entire foreshore on the table.
(now is the chance, the wider area is in such steep decline it is actually losing population)
(now is the chance, the wider area is in such steep decline it is actually losing population)
April 1, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Some say it is difficult to still expand our motorway network, but in reality we are leaving an entire foreshore on the table.
(now is the chance, the wider area is in such steep decline it is actually losing population)
(now is the chance, the wider area is in such steep decline it is actually losing population)
Is it just me or are we just hideously bad at traffic light phasing?
Case in point: what is the use of 60 second green phases for Victoria Street here? There's room for, what, 8 cars to queue between there and Queen Street? So, everyone else has to wait another 40 seconds to see nothing moving.
Case in point: what is the use of 60 second green phases for Victoria Street here? There's room for, what, 8 cars to queue between there and Queen Street? So, everyone else has to wait another 40 seconds to see nothing moving.
March 31, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Is it just me or are we just hideously bad at traffic light phasing?
Case in point: what is the use of 60 second green phases for Victoria Street here? There's room for, what, 8 cars to queue between there and Queen Street? So, everyone else has to wait another 40 seconds to see nothing moving.
Case in point: what is the use of 60 second green phases for Victoria Street here? There's room for, what, 8 cars to queue between there and Queen Street? So, everyone else has to wait another 40 seconds to see nothing moving.
The “Individuals data” from the 2023 census got released a while ago, and that always means it is time to render a bunch of maps again.
First: population. I kind of arbitrarily cropped to the area ranging from Papakura to Albany and Long Bay. Population here grew by almost 6% between 2028 and 2023.
First: population. I kind of arbitrarily cropped to the area ranging from Papakura to Albany and Long Bay. Population here grew by almost 6% between 2028 and 2023.
March 30, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The “Individuals data” from the 2023 census got released a while ago, and that always means it is time to render a bunch of maps again.
First: population. I kind of arbitrarily cropped to the area ranging from Papakura to Albany and Long Bay. Population here grew by almost 6% between 2028 and 2023.
First: population. I kind of arbitrarily cropped to the area ranging from Papakura to Albany and Long Bay. Population here grew by almost 6% between 2028 and 2023.
Planning officer: Does this development fit into the existing context?
MEANWHILE IN BELGIUM:
MEANWHILE IN BELGIUM:
March 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Planning officer: Does this development fit into the existing context?
MEANWHILE IN BELGIUM:
MEANWHILE IN BELGIUM: