Waiting at a bus stop for 34 minutes gives you time to get over the irritation and start to think.
It’s largely passed beneath the radar of national news but Christchurch has been experiencing supposed ‘aftershocks‘ from the September 4th earthquake in the unlikely – and largely unfashionable – world of public transport.
For those who aren’t up with the play, Environment Canterbury (prior to the dissolution of the Regional Council and appointment of Commissioners) altered its tender policies and, after the latest round of tenders, awarded routes previously operated by RedBus (the fully council-owned bus company) to three other operators – Leopard Coachlines, Ritchies and Christchurch Bus Services.
The three private companies awarded the routes are running old buses because, variously, they claim that the Canterbury earthquake and floods in China have delayed delivery of new buses ordered to fulfill the requirements of the successful tenders.
Letters to the Editor in The Press newspaper, including a letter from Paul McNoe, CEO of RedBus, claim it’s more complicated than simply the companies being caught out by unexpected natural disasters. Paul McNoe, for example, said work on the buses by DesignLine in Rolleston was already behind schedule prior to 4 September (the date of the earthquake).
A recent development, is that the Police, in response to letters to The Press, carried out a three day ‘sting’, pulling over buses on routes of particular concern and checking their roadworthiness. Continue reading →