An Experience

I've been using the buses a bit more lately and decided to do a little report on my experiences. Firstly, I needed to get from Papanui to Rolleston. These were my options:

1) - Catch the #10/14 etc to Merivale, Metrostar to Hornby then #520 to Rolleston
2) - Catch the #10/14 etc to the CBD, #5 to Hornby, #520 to Rolleston
3) - Catch the Orbiter to Ilam, Metrostar to Hornby, #520 to Rolleston

All three options involve transferring twice to get to my destination. While I accept that transferring is a concept widely accepted in most parts of the world it bugs me is that my trip isn't exactly roundabout. In fact, the second transfer at Hornby is pointless! The #520 should operate through from Christchurch with connections to other services at the CBD, Riccarton & Hornby. However, Metro/Ecan see it fit to turn the service into a shuttle from Hornby that runs once per hour (my only options to connect with the #520 were 18:55 & 19:55). Not exactly a seamless service!

The time it takes to use public transport to get to/from Rolleston is a joke, it is little wonder only one per cent of trips made between Rolleston & Christchurch are made using public transport. No one in their right mind would call this service tolerable, let alone an asset.

The main problems are:

• termination of the #520 at Hornby (shuttle nature of the service)
• low service frequency (one an hour)
• lack of connectivity between other services

If the service ran from the CBD people could access most parts of Christchurch with just the one transfer. Rolleston itself is fast approaching a population of 10-15 000 so I fail to see why this link is lagging behind. Services could run express through the city stopping only at Riccarton, Ilam & Hornby to connect with other services.

Rangiora has a direct service every half hour during weekdays, stylised as the 'Northern Star', running via Kaiapoi, Belfast and Papanui. Why can't Rolleston? What makes it worse is that you have to wait around in Hornby, often at night for some commuters, which isn't exactly the safest scenario. In short, I have found this service to represent all that is wrong with Christchurch's public transport system. Too slow, too infrequent and not much use.