Bus services

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 20

Bus services

Sir,—P. G. Clark (December 2) accuses Patrick Neary of putting up a smoke-screen in an attempt to justify the “huge increase in transport board rates.” P. G. Clark is in fact guilty of exactly the same, in an attempt to make a point. I quote: “In my area they recently extended two of their routes up to Mairehau School and every 15 minutes or over 60 times per day one of their air-polluting monsters goes past, nearly always empty.” If P. G. Clark lived, say in Manuka Street, a bus travels along Manuka Street 52 times

Monday to Thursday with a couple of trips on Friday evening. P. G. Clark suggests that one bus every hour along Manuka Street would be adequate. To achieve this would mean a 58-minute sit oiver at the terminus with a two-hour service. Ideal for people with a car or two in the garage, but what of those who need the service? As for the buses being almost empty, consider that the bus has passed 20 to 25 bus stops before arriving at Manuka Street and only has two or three stops left before the terminus and vica versa, going to town the bus should be almost empty. Smoke screen indeed! — Yours, etc., W. W. HOLTONJEFREYS December 4, 1981.