Buses better patronised

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 17

Buses better patronised

Saturday and Friday night buses are better patronised now than two years ago. according to a Christchurch Transport Board survey. According to the survey made during August and September, passengers on Friday night trips have increased 147 to 8581, and numbers on Saturday trips have increased 461 to 15,408. However, trips during the week (excluding Friday evening) and on Sunday showed declining patronage. The average number of passengers on each trip during the survey was 10.7. The report was tabled at a meeting of the board this week.

According to a report by the general manager, Mr M. G. Taylor, passenger journeys for the four weeks ended October 11 were down 4.3 per cent, but cash fares showed a rise of 2 per cent on the same period last year. However, 20-ride card journeys and school ticket journeys were down 21.8 per cent and 20.3 per cent respectively.

Fares were increased on September 29 last year, halfway through the four-week costing period, so that the concession card sales for that period last year were untypically high because many people bought concession cards in advance, he said. Taxi fares Taxi fares to and from work for staff are costing three times as much as the board estimated when this form of transport was approved in January this year. In the last five months, the cost of taxi transport has been nearly $30,500. The service would cost about $75,500 for the year, said Mr Taylor. Investigations were being made to see if some savings could be made by using a van for some trips. The van could mean a 20 per cent reduction in the taxi bill.

Mr Taylor assured board members that further investigation of the taxi scheme would be given urgency.