Bus fares to rise 20%

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 1

Bus fares to rise 20%

A 20 per cent increase in bus fares is planned in January. The finance and administration committee of the Christchurch Transport Board approved the increase at its meeting yesterday. The chairman of the committee, Mr Clyde Sugden, said it was important to note the Canterbury United Council’s attitude on bus “It has indicated that it considers the board’s fares to be too low and asks us to recover at least 51 per cent of operating costs from fares,” he said. The Transport Board would need to increase fares at least 35 per cent to achieve this recovery rate in the 1987-88 year. The “modest” 20 per cent increase planned for next year, with further increases later, would minimise the effect on

passenger trips, said Mr Sugden. The board still anticipates a 10 to 12 per cent loss in patronage as a result of the increased bus A board member, Mr Alex Clark, said the board was not justified in increasing fares to that level, and that it should work out strategy. “We should try to avoid having a drop in passengers and then having to run promotional schemes to get them back,” he said. The chairman of the board, Mr Patrick Neary, said he could see no alternative but to support the recommendation to increase fares 20 per cent. “Personally I would like to see the buses run free if the ratepayers and taxpayers would pay,” he said. “But we have to be realistic.”

The cheapest adult fare, for a ride not exceeding two sections, will be 60 cents. The committee discussed also the problem of advertising on buses. Some passengers had complained that it was difficult to recognise a bus if it was not painted distinctive red. A suggestion that the front of buses remain red was rejected by the company promoting bus advertising, because design was already restricted by essential bus numbers, notices, and logos. Ms Linda Purves, a bus driver and board member, suggested that all buses have a standard, big destination sign, to make them more distinctive. The committee finally decided that very few people were affected by the problem and that the board needed the income provided by advertising revenue.