I live on Waiheke Island, a peaceful island known for its vineyards, beaches and restaurants ( and narrow, winding roads) that blend with our lifestyle and scenery. The double-decker buses, operated by Fullers, were introduced to our island  back in 2016. These buses are not just an eyesore, but they also pose a significant safety risk as they often cross over to the other side of the road due to their size. (An incident occurred just today with a car, not for the first time. Native trees are annually trimmed back that hang over the road that are too low for the height of these monstrosities- at the local tax payers expense! The continual damage they do to the fragile states of our roads is merciless.

Waiheke's road system simply isn't designed to accommodate these massive vehicles. Our roads are too narrow, and the bus operation disrupts the traffic with their slowness and serene environment that we cherish. Additionally, the risk to our pedestrians , many cyclists and on-coming traffic is too great to be ignored when these oversized buses struggle to stay within their lanes.

Studies show that oversized vehicles are more likely to cause serious accidents on narrow roads - a fact that cannot be taken lightly (source: Transport Research Laboratory). We want our families and visitors to feel safe, not threatened by buses that are too large for our infrastructure.

We urge Fullers and the local authorities to consider other transportation alternatives that are more suited to Waiheke's unique road width and conditions. Safety should be prioritised over convenience.

We call for these double-decker buses to be removed from Waiheke's roads to ensure the wellbeing of our community, the preservation of our environment and the safety of our roads.

Please join us in our fight and sign this petition.