RAM - Residents Action Movement
Election InfoLine 14.9.07

Put the public back into public transport

Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee says he is frustrated at the way that a near-doubling in the subsidy to public transport operators hasn't increased bus patronage apart from the Northern Busway.

Mr Lee says he feels like someone who's put their money "into a vending machine and ends up frantically banging the sides trying to make something come out".

"If I were in that situation, I would stop putting my money into the machine," said Roger Fowler, transport analyst for RAM - Residents Action Movement.

"Clearly the fundamentals are wrong with the private, commercial, for-profit provision of public transport in Greater Auckland."

"The commercial ethic is directly contrary to the actual needs of Aucklanders to move around their region, and should have no role in public transport," said Roger Fowler.

"One of the reasons bus patronage is down is listed as 'competition from rail'. This should be ringing warning bells with Mr Lee. Surely what we need is rail and bus transport working together in a complementary fashion, not competing."

"An ARC which took public transport seriously would make sure the Auckland Regional Transport Authority took away those bus services which merely duplicate train services. The authorities would be better off using the savings thus made to run free feeder bus services to trains."

"Buses competing with rail is an example of the stupidity of having our public transport system run for profit. The ARC should stop pouring money into the broken vending machine, and regain direct control over the provision of public transport."

"The ARC needs to put the public back into public transport. I call on Mr Lee to start giving some leadership on this issue, instead of merely complaining from the sidelines," said Roger Fowler.

RAM is campaigning in the local government elections for free and frequent public transport to be funded by a major transfer of state funds from highway building to buses and trains.

ENDS

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