It would be interesting to know what travellers to New Zealand's fifth largest city think of our drab cheapjack bus depot which is probably the root cause of the demise of much of the Willow Street CBD where the signs 'For Lease” are the main attraction of 'Stuff to do in Tauranga”.
Are our city leaders really proud that buses use far more precious inner city kerb space than is the case in Auckland's lower Queen Street where buses are much longer than our Hopper buses?
The important difference is that the Auckland buses do not sit for long periods as happens here, but simply set down and pick up passengers then get rolling immediately.
Here so much kerbside is reserved for local buses as well as for long distance coaches that there is no short term parking available in the area.
If only our city planners had seen the very user friendly integrated modern transport centre for trains and buses in New Lynn built since the railway line was lowered maybe they might have considered a similar integrated transport centre established on The Strand Reclamation to serve trains and ferries as well as buses. Light rail commuter services need to be included in planning for the future.
In the meantime even the revival of the old bus terminus in Durham Street would do much to bring back a little life to the CBD.
CBD here stands for Central Bus Depot and our council building is the only one in NZ with the dubious distinction of being completely ring fenced by buses.

Samuel Smith, Otumoetai.