Buses may change to numbered route indicators

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 3

Buses may change to numbered route indicators

The Christchurch Transport Board is to in- ; vestigate the introduc-l ition of a number system on its buses to replace 'the present named destinations. ' The general manager (Mr M. G. Taylor), yesterday desicribed the present system of ! displaying a bus’s destination las “illogical and confusing.” 'and satisfactory only because of its long familiarity. Route names were confusing. For example, he said, Spreydon buses serviced the suburb of Somerfield, while the Somerfield buses went to an area best described as Hoo n Hay. Fendalton buses 'now went through that sublurb to terminate in either lAvonhead or Burnside. i The way to eliminate the jeonfusion was to remove the 'place names and replace I them with a route number. I At present, to be sure of getting on the correct bus passengers not only had to I select one with the correct | destination name but also jhad to check supplementary

destination cards in the left jfront windscreen, Mr Taylor I said. I This information could be given bv showing a three- ; digit destination number. The [first would define which of |the nine areas of the city the; I bus was running to. the seclond digit would define the;

general route involved, and (the third would complete the (description by defining the particular terminal point. BeIcause the system had a logical basis, it should prove more helpful to the public. Mr Taylor said that to avjoid confusion the change ifrom one system to another

should be made overnight, 'and provided a properly organised publicity campaign was carried out, the system should be more readily understood and accepted Mr Taylor will study how best the proposed system can be implemented, and report back to the board.