Rationalising the Bus System

With a new round of tendering for Christchurch's bus services been and gone there is change aplenty from 2 November. The entire system has been rationalised, which i see as a good thing. More routes have been made through running routes (i.e they continue through the CBD to another suburban destination) allowing some routes to be absorbed and others to be ditched. The changes are as follows (as best as I can comprehend!):

• #3 (Avonhead-Sumner) is extended to run through to the Airport and becomes "Airport-Sumner via Avonhead"
• #11 (Supa Centre-Westmorland) has a route change and becomes "Styx Mill-Westmorland"
• #12 (Northwood) is extended to run through to Murray Aynsley in the south replacing the #66 (Murray Aynsley)
• #13 (Redwood-Hoon Hay) is replaced by #8 (Casebrook-Hoon Hay) and #22 Redwood-Spreydon)
• #14 (Nunweek) extended to run through to Dyers Pass in the Port Hills and becomes "Harewood-Dyers Pass" replacing #67 (Dyers Pass)
• #15 (Bishopdale-Bowenvale) has a name change to "Bishopdale-Beckenham" and terminates on Huntsbury Hill rather than running through Bowenvale Valley
• #17 (Bryndwr-Barrington) ceases to exist and is replaced in part by #9 (Wairakei) and #20 (Burnside-Barrington) and #22 (Redwood-Spreydon)
• #24 (Hyde Park-Bromley) is replaced by #23 (Hyde Park-Woolston) which is essentially the same service but with route changes
• #35 (Heathcote) is extended to run through to Riccarton becoming "Riccarton-Heathcote" (Note: this service terminates in Lyttelton)

Okay, i think that is it! As you can see a lot of changes! These are not the only changes either, increased frequencies on a number of services are also being introduced, both at peak and off-peak (including the Diamond Harbour ferry). These changes follow the tender process for the Christchurch bus routes which will see new operators on a number of these routes. From what I have heard, CBS have lost quite a few and Leopard have gained quite well.

Another change I would like to see is a common livery. Although there are four operators (three bus, one ferry) I don't see any need to maintain separate liveries as it serves no purpose because all the routes are tendered. This would tie in well with the Metro brand and could create more awareness of the public transport system. Heck, we have the 'metrocard' surely it should go with the 'metrobus'.

In addition, I think it is time we separated our bus system into 'regions' to make it easier for passengers to identify their relevant routes and make it easier to consult timetables. I have seen this done in Auckland and to a degree in Wellington. For example, the city could be divided geographically into 'East' (Linwood-New Brighton-Burwood), 'West' (Riccarton-Harewood), 'North' (Merivale-Papanui-Waimakariri), 'Central' (St Albans-Shirley, Sydenham, Port Hills) and 'South' (Hornby-Lincoln-Rolleston). Each 'area' would be colour coded e.g orange for East, red for Central, green for West, blue for North and yellow for South. Route numbers could also be assigned depending on the region e.g 100-199 for Central, 200-299 for East, 300-399 for West, 400-499 for North and 500-599 for South. Suburb to suburb routes, such as the Orbiter and Metrostar, would continue to stand alone.

Making public transport easier to understand makes it more likely to be used. If its easy, people are more likely to think about taking the bus rather than the car.

Finally, I have often wondered if additional ferry routes could operate at peak times. For example, Lyttelton-Church Bay or Charteris Bay. I'm thinking only one or two trips per day around the peak period. Perhaps even Governers Bay to eliminate the tricky roads? In summers past ferry trips have operated to Purau Bay for campers so i guess it is possible.

So that's whats happening, and those are my ideas. I would be really interested to know what anyone thinks of my concept of rationalising the system further around geographical areas and my subsequent ideas on numbering and assigned colours.