Increases in bus fares in January

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 9

Increases in bus fares in January

An attempt to delay a restructuring of bus fares was defeated by the Christchurch Transport Board yesterday. Mr Geoff Stone wanted the proposed restructuring to be evaluated by a computer model before it was formally adopted. The model would predict the effects of the changes. Most bus fares would increase under the new fare schedule but the discount on concession tickets would increase from 20 to 25 per cent The new fares would probably come into force on January 7, 1985. Mr Stone did not think fares should be increased when fuel prices had been increased. The petrol price rise was “the best opportunity since earless days to increase bus patronage.” More thought needed to be given to the proposal by. the board before it approved the change, he said.

The board had spent a considerable sum In developing the computer model to enable it to test new routes and fare increases. It would be “silly” not to put the new fare schedule through the model, said Mr Stone.

The board’s general manager, Mr Max Taylor,

said the computer model could not be used until the board had finished installing its own computer, in at least a year. The new fare schedule had been evaluated manually by board staff before it had been put before the finance and planning committee.

The board adopted the new schedule. Fuel rise

The recent increase in fuel prices would add $208,000 to the board’s diesel and petrol bill this financial year, the chairman of the finance and planning committee, Mr Clyde Sugden, told the board.

An increase of 10 per cent had been allowed in the estimates but the 20 per cent devaluation of the New Zealand dollar had “thrown that out the window," he said. The increase would mean the board could spend $109,G00 more than it had budgeted for fuel. Mr Taylor said that fuel consumption had increased about 3 per cent although fleet running was the same as last year. A recent increase in patronage was the probable cause for greater fuel consumption. Buses had to stop more often and wait longer at stops while people boarded, he said.