I moved to Auckland from Europe less than 6 months ago and I must start with saying that I absolutely love it here. The climate is great, the people are friendly and there is lots of great architecture and creativity in the city which I love. Unfortunately I have become very dependent on using the car wherever I go. In Europe I lived for years without even owing a car, and life was pretty simple with fresh walks, the bike if the distance was I bit to far, and of course the local trams (Gothenburg), tubes (London) and local buses commuting to work.
I brought my bike when we moved here, aiming to start using it wherever I go but the lack of cycle lanes, cycle stands and ignorance from drivers I feel too vulnerable on the busy central Auckland roads. Auckland is about to change, it will increase significantly over the next 30 years and the city council has big ambitions for the city and is hoping it to become the most liveable city in the world. I really hope this could be a reality, but for that to happen there must be a drastic change in the way Aucklanders use their cars and start walking, cycling or at least start using the local buses or trains. It's a bit ironic but you can quite often see the [empty!] buses, stuck in the morning traffic, amongs cars with only a driver but no other passengers.
Here's some inspiring films about life in cities.
The human scale - a new film with the great Danish architect Jan Gehl, about human interaction in our cities.
Copenhagen - the most liveable city, by Monocle.
And last, Saturdays in Charleston, a really picturesque short film, by Kinfolk, of how life in a city with less cars can be like.
 |
| Hoping to see this in Auckland one day very soon! |
