Local residents have noticed an upswing in the number of motorists using the bus-only tunnel at the top of Pirie Street over the summer period. Rather than the occasional lost tourist or cheeky driver, the tunnel is rapidly becoming the thoroughfare of choice for a growing number of impatient motorists.

The tunnel itself is single lane, badly lit and quite heavily rutted due to the number of buses that travel through it. Under the Greater Wellington bylaw governing the tunnel, it is "No Entry" to regular traffic, with use restricted to scheduled bus services only. The restrictions are being completely ignored by this small group of motorists, who in many cases are also running the red traffic light that controls the one-way flow in the tunnel.

A 4WD running the red light through the bus tunnel, whilst ignoring the "No Entry" signs

The danger from the current spate of poor driver behaviour is obvious. The park and the Bowling Club at the top of Pirie Street are heavily used by families, walkers and recreational cyclists at this time of year, most of whom don't expect to be confronted by boy racers speeding in and out of the tunnel. Local residents have seen a number of near misses, when people driving out of the car park by the Bowling Club have had narrow escapes from unexpected tunnel runners, and when oncoming buses have forced tunnel runners to reverse out of the tunnel!

The spread of camera phones and digital cameras is proving useful in documenting and prosecuting illegal use of the tunnel, with the Police happy to take action against drivers when a complaint is accompanied by a photograph. Local residents are encouraged to photograph and report any driver ignoring the "No Entry" signs, or to report the activity by calling Police Communications on *555 from a cellphone.