I’d ban buses as well as cars from the golden mile

Stuff reports:

Wellingtonians have overwhelmingly backed a radical plan to remove cars from Golden Mile, significantly widen footpaths and turn several side streets in Wellington’s inner city into pedestrian-only zones.

Almost 2000 people gave feedback on three options for proposed changes to Wellington’s Golden Mile, which runs from 1.5 miles from the Beehive to the end of Courtenay Place.

The vast majority supported the “transform” option, the most radical of the three options to reform Wellington’s main shopping and entertainment area. The plan would cost up to $80 million and remove up to 200 car parks between Wellington Railway Station and Kent/Cambridge Terrace. …

The “transform” option would remove all public traffic from the Golden Mile, create bus-only lanes along the entire stretch, and widen footpaths by as much as 75 per cent.

The plan proposes pedestrianising the end of almost every side street which connects on to the Golden Mile, including Tory Street, Lower Cuba Street, and areas surrounding Midland Park on Lambton Quay. Service vehicles would still be able to access the streets when required.

It would also create a shared zone beside the footpath for cycling and electric scooters along Lambton Quay.

Some bus stops along the route would be closed or moved to reduce bus congestion the streets. New, larger bus stops would be built, separated from the main footpath area.

It’s a step in the right direction. But I would go further and turn Lambton Quay into a pedestrian only mall with no vehicles at all. Have cafes and bars spilling onto the street. Have pop up shops in the middle etc.