Free bus refused

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 3

Free bus refused

The Christchurch Transport Board has declined a request by the Christchurch City Council for a free bus service for hospital visitors between Cathedral Square and the Christchurch Public Hospital. The council, which made the request to help overcome ■ parking problems near the ; hospital, will be told by the : board that little if any significant relief to hospital ■ parking problems would re- ; suit from such a service. The board believes it : would be more feasible t,o i relieve parking pressure in • the area by making bus

-(travel for hospital visitors! t'free over the whole of the|l t board’s service. However, the ; of identifying bona ] s I fide visitors and recovering; I .■•the revenue that w.ould be< ; lost made this an unpalatable'l suggestion. > A 5c fare between Cathed- » ral Square and the hospital! l j was available for several li j years, but it did not result ini - noticeably increased patron-p 1 age. It was recently discon-11 - tinued because it was used'; by people working near thejs t'hospital rather than by hos-! r.'pital patients and visitors,;: ijfor whom the service was in- < sltended. >■

! During hospital visiting 'hours on week-days — 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and 630 p.m. to 7.30 p.m — the board provides 68 trips from 'Cathedral Square past the 'hospital, and 66 trips past ‘the hospital to the Square. A refund to hospital visiitors of their bus fares b\ .either the North Canterbury [Hospital Board or the City Council might achieve the Idesired result, and would not ; invalidate the board’s bud|get, the board believes. The only other alternative ‘suggested was an extensio of the free shoppers’ bus [some future date.