Newmarket badly hit by Stagecoach bus strike

Newmarket badly hit by Stagecoach bus strike

The six-day bus drivers strike is hitting Auckland business, Newmarket Business Association General Manager Cameron Brewer said today.

“The bus strike is costing the city in productivity, time, and fuel. Across Auckland employees are turning up late, shoppers are avoiding the shops, couriers are struggling to meet deadlines, and students are missing out on education.

“While I’m sure most Aucklanders support a pay rise for Stagecoach drivers, they’ll have little tolerance for the chaos the strikes are causing. Parking up 560 buses for six days in a city already choked with traffic congestion won’t help the drivers win much sympathy.

Mr Brewer said given Newmarket is a key hub for bus connections, the town centre is worse affected than most.

“A lot of the 90 routes Stagecoach buses take around Auckland go through Newmarket. At the morning peak 138 buses go through Newmarket an hour, with people so reliant on the likes of The Link, The Remuera Rider, and The Night Rider.

“It’s a pity the bus drivers didn’t hold their strike during the recent school holidays, when they could’ve made their point without punishing every Aucklander so badly,” said Mr Brewer.

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