Auckland: Car beats public transport

Car beats public transport - Auckland City Harbour news on Stuff.co.nz

Petrol prices are soaring, the planet is cooking and traffic is gridlocked.

So there’s never been a better time to get on a bus.

Aucklanders are being encouraged to leave their cars behind and find alternative ways of getting to work, both to combat climate change and make the city more liveable.

But for those who live and work in the suburbs, is public transport really viable?

For five days I gave up my easy 20-minute drive to work and tested more sustainable ways of getting around.

It took nearly $40 in bus and train tickets and more than 11 hours in travelling time – an extra eight hours compared to a normal driving week – and the only sensible alternative still involved a car.

The verdict? I’ll have my car keys back please.