Speed Humps

Auckland City Council decided the complaints by pensioners about safe road crossing on the Ostend straightaway would be best addressed by installing speed humps instead of a zebra crosswalk (they claimed the traffic count did not support the need for the protected crossing). The first set of speed humps damaged the bus axles. So they installed a new set of narrower rubber ones. This created a new slalom sport on Waiheke, where the challenge was to avoid the humps entirely, but not damage wheel rims by hitting the curb.

In this photo the Auckland City mayor and councillor for the Gulf look on as a Honda City demonstrates the precision moves.

The humps were later stolen in the wee hours of the night. Rumours suggest they were removed by prominent citizens associated with one of the most reputable service clubs on the island. (The mayor and councillor in the photo were removed by ordinary citizens in the next election).

After this second theft, Council caved in and gave the pensioners what they asked for in the beginning... a crosswalk.

Ratepayers paid thrice.