Controversial in-lane bus stop that ‘failed the common sense test’ to be reviewed in Hamilton

A controversial in-lane bus stop that blocks an arterial route to Waikato Hospital “has failed the common sense test” and is being reviewed.

Hamilton City Council replaced a bus shelter in 2023 with in-lane bus stops, and built a separated cycleway and a raised pedestrian crossing on Pembroke St, a main route to Waikato Hospital, airport, and SH3.

It was an unpopular and controversial project at the time, deputy mayor Geoff Taylor said, noting there were concerns from Fire and Emergency, ambulances and also “justified” complaints from locals.

“The reality is it's an arterial route to the hospital... for fire engines, ambulances, and all that sort of thing,” Hamiltonian Stuart Aitken, who uses the road often, said.

“The reality of a bus blocking a lane when there's possibility of an ambulance flying through in an emergency to me seems a bit of a no-brainer, as a potentially daft decision.