the stagecoach bus company cites falling patronage as a reason to cut the frequency of (un-subsidised; surprise surprise), services..
now this ain’t rocket science..i’ve just lapsed back into car driving after a decent period spent trying to live in auckland using public transport..(and i was in the city..at the hub..)
reasons for falling patronage..
1) lousy service (see above)
2) really expensive,,(compare to christchurch..)
3) filthy, dirty buses..some look/feel like, they haven’t been cleaned in a month of sundays..’would you like a nice greasy experience with that bus ride..?
4) rude nasty bus drivers..y’know ,the ones who see/hear people running for the bus and just pull away anyway..pricks!.(it’s always men)..
bus drivers really run the gamut of humanity, eh..from really nice to absolute shits..(mind you, their pay and working conditions would test a saint..)
reason 4 is just a bit of a whinge but 1 to 3 are the reasons bus patronage is dropping..
The New Zealand Herald