Our PM Jacinda Ardern (and the government)

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#2943200 17-Jul-2022 17:16

This is some good news (as a frequent public transport user):
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129300639/government-extends-fuel-tax-relief-half-price-public-transport-until-january-2023

Technofreak

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#2943202 17-Jul-2022 17:36

quickymart:

This is some good news (as a frequent public transport user):
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129300639/government-extends-fuel-tax-relief-half-price-public-transport-until-january-2023

Good news for sure on the fuel tax relief as I do about 600-700 km per week.

Even though I never use public transport I think the public transport relief is good too. Though I do question the level of local public transport as any buses I see drive past are almost always nearly empty, which makes me wonder that a lot of money is being wasted, at least on the public transport around here. Are we just unnecessarily subsidising the companies that run those buses?

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tdgeek

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#2943220 17-Jul-2022 18:58

Technofreak:

Good news for sure on the fuel tax relief as I do about 600-700 km per week.

Even though I never use public transport I think the public transport relief is good too. Though I do question the level of local public transport as any buses I see drive past are almost always nearly empty, which makes me wonder that a lot of money is being wasted, at least on the public transport around here. Are we just unnecessarily subsidising the companies that run those buses?

Thats a hard one. Its great for climate change, its great to combat fuel inflation but its a petri dish for infections, based on a last week article on breathing in others air, and the lack of mask wearing. Easy fix is to mandate public transport mask wearing with enforcement, but then that will backfire with protests and media activity. Then we complain that Covid wont go away. If buses arent being used much, then cancel that, then more media activity.

rugrat

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#2943234 17-Jul-2022 20:55

This is good for Christchurch, as fares were dropping in February anyway. I use bus time to time, and with google transit times using live data, know close to a minute when bus going to arrive.

Copy paste from Email received,

”From February 2023: 🎉 We’re removing Zones for bus customers and moving to flat fares:
👉 $2 Metrocard fares for adults
👉 $1 Metrocard fares for:
▪️ Anyone under 25 years old (Under 5's still travel free)
▪️ Tertiary students
▪️ Community Services Card holders
▪️ Total Mobility Card holders ”

It’s a big cost cut for people that live in likes of Rolleston going to city and other further out areas.

In article from link posted by quickymart

”Robertson attributed the cut to public transport costs as boosting patronage on buses and trains in major cities, from 49% of 2019 levels to 65%.”

quickymart

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#2943250 17-Jul-2022 22:42

That is good news indeed rugrat.

Predictably, the opposition aren't happy about it, although I have no idea what National would have done in this situation? More roads?

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/07/cost-of-living-government-placing-bandaid-upon-bandaid-rather-than-having-plan-to-address-inflation-national-s-nicola-willis.html

GV27

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#2943261 18-Jul-2022 06:28

quickymart:

Predictably, the opposition aren't happy about it, although I have no idea what National would have done in this situation? More roads?

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/07/cost-of-living-government-placing-bandaid-upon-bandaid-rather-than-having-plan-to-address-inflation-national-s-nicola-willis.html

I think given we now have inflation at 7% - 8%, their policy to align tax brackets with inflation is going to become Robertson can't keep taking potshots out. Eventually someone is going to ask him if not adjusting tax rates more than once a decade is a tax hike by stealth.

JPNZ

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#2943267 18-Jul-2022 08:16

rugrat:

This is good for Christchurch, as fares were dropping in February anyway. I use bus time to time, and with google transit times using live data, know close to a minute when bus going to arrive.

Copy paste from Email received,

”From February 2023: 🎉 We’re removing Zones for bus customers and moving to flat fares:
👉 $2 Metrocard fares for adults
👉 $1 Metrocard fares for:
▪️ Anyone under 25 years old (Under 5's still travel free)
▪️ Tertiary students
▪️ Community Services Card holders
▪️ Total Mobility Card holders ”

It’s a big cost cut for people that live in likes of Rolleston going to city and other further out areas

How full on average are the buses you use? Just like Technofreak every bus I see around town looks to be about 10-15% full

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alasta

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#2943284 18-Jul-2022 08:39

My bus into work this morning (#1 route, Wellington) was a double decker with all seats occupied and a lot of passengers standing in the aisle.

So, some routes are certainly well patronised.

JPNZ

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#2943291 18-Jul-2022 08:50

alasta:

My bus into work this morning (#1 route, Wellington) was a double decker with all seats occupied and a lot of passengers standing in the aisle.

So, some routes are certainly well patronised.

Yes well... you have the best public transport in NZ so no surprises there.

I was specifically asking rugrat about Christchurch

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#2943308 18-Jul-2022 09:53

alasta:

My bus into work this morning (#1 route, Wellington) was a double decker with all seats occupied and a lot of passengers standing in the aisle.

So, some routes are certainly well patronised.

Is that one still Island Bay?

Technofreak

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#2943319 18-Jul-2022 10:37

alasta:

My bus into work this morning (#1 route, Wellington) was a double decker with all seats occupied and a lot of passengers standing in the aisle.

So, some routes are certainly well patronised.

Public transport has always worked well in Wellington. Here in Hamilton we seem to run buses for the sake of it. In my opinion the regional council are throwing good money after bad by supporting services that are not used or barely used. A mini bus or even a car would suffice for many of the buses I see.

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rugrat

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#2943381 18-Jul-2022 11:41

JPNZ:

How full on average are the buses you use? Just like Technofreak every bus I see around town looks to be about 10-15% full

Depends on time of day. At 5pm I got on a bus that was 80% full. Off peak bus will be near empty. People that travel by car have choice to take advantage of lower fares if wish, or pay fuel costs and car wear and tear costs. Bus will take a bit longer, but can relax on the journey.

JPNZ

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#2943389 18-Jul-2022 12:03

rugrat:

Depends on time of day. At 5pm I got on a bus that was 80% full. Off peak bus will be near empty. People that travel by car have choice to take advantage of lower fares if wish, or pay fuel costs and car wear and tear costs. Bus will take a bit longer, but can relax on the journey.

I don't see why the council can't just run them at peak times then, they surely know what times are cost effective regarding usage on individual routes

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Technofreak

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#2943390 18-Jul-2022 12:06

rugrat:

JPNZ:

How full on average are the buses you use? Just like Technofreak every bus I see around town looks to be about 10-15% full

Depends on time of day. At 5pm I got on a bus that was 80% full. Off peak bus will be near empty. People that travel by car have choice to take advantage of lower fares if wish, or pay fuel costs and car wear and tear costs. Bus will take a bit longer, but can relax on the journey.

That only works if the bus runs at a suitable time. I enjoy driving but also I'd be happy to sit and enjoy the scenery if a bus went my way. It doesn't and that applies to a significant amount of the population who live outside of Auckland Wellington and Christchurch. I have never lived anywhere where a bus service was an option to get to work. I don't think some people living in the central areas of likes of Auckland and Wellington realise that a bus may not be an option. It's a way of life to them and are conditioned to a bus service being near enough to their front door at times that work for them.

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Technofreak

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#2943529 18-Jul-2022 17:39

In the headlines today.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/129230563/damning-report-reveals-financial-meltdown-at-new-mega-polytech-te-pkenga?dicbo=v2-61dc1eadc9534369130196bf74b6b346

What an unmitigated mess. It's not as if there weren't any warnings at the start about it being a cluster in the making, but No, Jacinda, Grant Chris and Co pushed ahead.

Let's hope the new Health reforms don't go the same way.

This government is very good on the talk but not nearly as good on the walk.

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