“Dead Wood” On Bus Routes

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 14

“Dead Wood” On Bus Routes

The decision of the Christchurch Transport Board to survey every bus route and cut out the "dead wood” will be welcomed by ratepayers as a whole, however inconvenient the result may be to minority groups. Christchurch ratepayers are now reconciled to the running of public transport at a loss. They realise that public transport helps to maintain the commercial and cultural vigour of the city centre and that greater use of public transport would help to reduce the traffic congestion that threatens to be very costly in the next generation. But that does not mean that the board can afford to be

wasteful On the contrary, because the board needs public co-operation if it is to take a full share in the solution of metropolitan problems, it must show that it is businesslike in its operations and that rate money will not be squandered. The board cannot win many friends by operating services that are poorly patronised; and it cannot give much indirect service to the community if it carries few passengers. The board would be wise to concentrate its resources

where they are appreciated. After every route has had a fair trial the time must come when the board should trim the timetable to match the support it is given.