Tuesday 14 July 2020
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Under pressure
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Empty buses cost council Matt Brown Reporter
matt@marlboroughmedia.co.nz
Council is sinking tens of thousands of dollars into a commuter bus service that is barely being used.
Two trial bus circuits designed to take commuters were launched near the end of February. But the service is falling flat with an average journey costing council the equivalent of around $70 per passenger. One worried commuter says she’s
always travelling solo and hopes more people will jump on board. Retail assistant Cheryl Abrahams, from Blenheim, says she wanted to reduce her carbon footprint but fears she is making it worse. “I’m wanting to make my carbon footprint smaller but, am I, as the
only one on the bus?” The bus services, two commuter lines and a bus from Renwick, are part of an 18-month trial service. The east and west commuter lines each do two circuits in the morning and two in the evening – eight circuits each day.
Figures from council, show passengers have taken 248 trips on the commuter bus and 342 rides on the Renwick line since the beginning of the trial to 30 June. “All of council’s bus services were
SEE PAGE 3
Lara’s big OE Cuddon freeze dry sales and marketing manager Blair Kibblewhite with Lara, who’s destined for America. Read the story on page 5. Photo: Matt Brown.
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