Working with ECan, we’re helping to encourage the people of Greater Christchurch and Timaru to have their say on the future of public transport as part of The Regional Public Transport Plan.
The document is far-reaching with a 3-5 year plan and 30 year vision, containing proposals for more buses on more high frequency routes, the introduction of measures to free up the passage of buses along their journeys, a transition to zero emission vehicles and the proposed construction of rapid transit corridors in the future.
To kick-start the conversation we proposed a Free Bus Day on International Car-Free Day. Stewart Gibbon, Senior Manager of Public Transport at Environment Canterbury explains the success of the event and what it means for the future of public transport in Greater Christchurch and Timaru. “We had an additional 15,672 trips on the network. If you assume every trip is return, that’s around 8,000 extra people using the buses instead of their cars. The vibe on the buses was really great, with lots of people out and about and enjoying the freedom that their bus trip offered — and seeing such a high turnout really does show that public transport is a viable alternative to using a car".
The future of public transport is important to us all, especially as Greater Christchurch and Timaru continue to grow. If you haven’t already, to have your say on the future of public transport click here.
