Feedback on buses from the campaign trail

Talking to bus patrons over the last few weeks, I’ve had some interesting feedback. The bus system is generally working well, but there are still suggestions for adjustments and improvements. Island Bay and Johnsonville residents told me that the #1 route seems to get a lot of delays. Miramar residents told me the buses are often too full in the mornings. Owhiro Bay residents want the #29 route extended so that their bus connects into the city going north. A resident in Karori asked why some evening #2 buses can’t take people up into the hilly areas, alternating between the north and south sides, to help elderly residents get home after a night out. Weekend services generally need more thought if they are going to be useful in helping reduce reduce weekend congestion, ( for example, getting older kids to sport)

A recent WCC residents survey showed that up to 44% of residents did not consider bus fares affordable , and this was borne out in the feedback I received. Brooklyn residents pay over $2 to travel a very short distance into town, so many of them actually walk, even though the walk is steep. Others in different areas told me they pay $50 or more each week for their travel, and many families are also paying to send kids to school.

I think we need to do more to make fares affordable for everyone, but particularly families, the disabled, and young people who need to be able to get around the city.

I heard that Melbourne has capped daily and weekly fares and Christchurch is capped at ten trips in 5 days with weekend travel free. There has been some talk about a weekly fare cap for Wellington , and I support this with the proviso that the cap should work well for bus users as well as those using more expensive trains. I also want to see Wellington’s fare zones reduced to two rather than three.

Please feel free to comment or get back to me privately by email: sarah.free@actrix.co.nz