Public transport in Christchurch

Public transport in Christchurch, New Zealand consists of bus services operated by three bus companies (who win a renewable tender process) supported by a ferry, all jointly marketed as Metro.

Overview

Buses from the three different companies in Christchurch display not only their own company logo and livery but also the Metro logo to signal they are part of the citywide network. The Northern Star service has its own blue livery. A Selwyn Star service will feature a yellow livery. The City Flyer buses are excused from having the logo as part of a commercial agreement.

'Real-time' bus arrival times are displayed on electronic displays at bus stops, online and mobile (cellphone) WAP.

Ticketing and fares are, with some exceptions, standard across the city's network. An electronic 'Metro' card provides a discount off regular fares. Students receive a discount, and senior citizens travel free (a law from New Zealand's central government).

The 'Bus Exchange' in the city centre serves as the chief bus interchange point and passenger hub for the Metro network. The Exchange has attracted interest from other worldwide city authorities investigating how to improve their bus services. Since the Bus Exchange opened in 2000, the number of people using the bus service has doubled and numbers are still increasing. There is now a need to provide a larger Transport Interchange.

The City Council has purchased land for a new Transport Interchange in the block bounded by Colombo, Lichfield, Durham and Tuam Streets. The new facility will be able to accommodate more buses. It is expected to have 26 bus stands rather than the nine in the current exchange. It will be safer because people will not need to walk across where buses enter and exit. Manoeuvring of buses will take place underground and there will be a below ground central waiting lounge for travellers. The interchange will integrate with other modes of transport such as cycling, taxis, long distance coaches and shuttles, car parking and in the future, light rail. As a result of the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes the Council has deferred some capital projects, including the new bus exchange, to focus resources on more urgent priorities.^[2] The current bus exchange building has been condemned^[3] and a temporary exchange is currently under construction at the site acquired for the new exchange.^[4]

Bus lanes operational during peak commuting hours have now opened on some routes. These were opened because traffic congestion was causing delays to services and discouraging commuters from using buses as an alternative to private motor vehicles. The routes have been controversial with some business owners concerned at the loss of parking from outide their businesses during the lanes operational times, but the lanes have improved bus travel times, schedule adherence and have resulted in an increase in passenger numbers. More bus lanes are proposed on other busy routes.

In early 2010 the Christchurch City Council published "A City for People Action Plan" based a 2009 study by Jan Gehl, renown urban designer and city planner, with his recommendations into improving life in the city. The chief recommendation was to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. As part of this the number of bus routes travelling down the city's main street, Colombo Street, would be reduced. The majority of buses would travel an inner city ring route instead.^[5]

Suburban bus services

The new Central Station replaced the two temporary bus exchanges which had replaced the city's damaged Bus Xchange. The new exchange is located between Lichfield Street and Tuam Street and will operate for up to two years. The Link Shuttle service which linked the two temporary exchanges has now been terminated.

The following services are operated under the Metro brand.

Key

• ll Route operated by Red Bus
• ll Route operated by Leopard Coachlines
• ll Route operated by Go Bus Christchurch

• Buses on route fitted with bike racks

Bikes on buses

Christchurch is currently the only place in New Zealand where bikes are carried on suburban buses. The trial started in November 2007 on the 35 route to Heathcote.^[6] Bike racks on buses are provided on many routes now.

The Shuttle

The Shuttle is a zero-fare Public transport service in the inner city.^[7] The hybrid buses, which are battery powered using a small Liquefied petroleum gas-fuelled gas turbine engine to keep the battery charged, produce less air pollution than normal diesel buses. The Shuttle's fleet of (yellow) hybrid buses is operated by Red Bus Ltd^[7] and the service is funded by Christchurch City Council.^[8]

Other transport services

Taxis

There are a variety of taxi operators active in Christchurch. Operations are regulated by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Airport transport

Christchurch International Airport is served by buses and shuttle vans.

• Three bus routes are available from the airport bus stand located outside the International Arrivals Terminal;
  • the number 3 bus (via Avonhead & City to Sumner)
  • the number 10 bus (via Harewood & City to Cashmere)
  • the number 29 bus (via Fendalton to City)

• One bus route is available at the entrance to the airport car park (5 minute walk from terminals) on Orchard Road and Memorial Avenue;
  • the Comet (Hornby to Papanui via Airport)

• Shuttle vans provided by several operators, including most taxi companies, provide door-to-door transport to and from the Airport.

Diamond Harbour ferry

A ferry connects the suburb of Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour, a settlement on the opposite side of Lyttelton Harbour. Ferries first began crossing Lyttelton Harbour in 1888. The ferry is operated by Black Cat Ltd.

Christchurch Tramway

Christchurch Tramway Ltd [38] operates a one-way tram circuit of the central city. This is mainly marketed as a tourist attraction, but is available to local commuters with an annual season ticket. Trams were originally introduced to Christchurch in 1905, ceased operating in 1954,^[9] and returned to the newly-built inner city loop in 1995, mainly as a tourist attraction.

Preliminary investigation into light rail options for Christchurch have begun. Investigating options and protecting possible routes is an action point in the City Council's "A City for People Action Plan" (approved in 2010). The new Transport Interchange is being designed to accommodate a future light rail network.

Heavy rail

Commuter rail service was discontinued in the 1970s, while long distance rail travel (by Tranz Scenic) has been scaled back to just TranzCoastal and TranzAlpine, which leave from an architecturally controversial station in Riccarton.

Operations

The local bus service (with the exception of The Shuttle) is marketed as Metro and designed, specified, put out to tender and subsidised by Environment Canterbury.

Christchurch City Council provides roading infrastructure and street furniture such as signs and seats and regulates parking at bus stops, and is also owner of Red Bus Ltd through its holding company Christchurch City Holdings. The city council also fully funds the zero-fare The Shuttle service. The city council provided the current central city Bus Exchange in November 2000.

Vehicle safety standards are regulated by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Cultural references

Christchurch's public transport system served as backdrop for Tim Veling's 2006 book "Red Bus Diary", in which the author toured the city on public buses and compiled the stories of the people he met.

References

External links

• Red Bus website
• Metro website
• Diamond Harbour ferry website
• MetroMate website - application for finding your bus stop and obtaining realtime information of the bus(s) coming
• NZ In Tranzit Blog - Commentary & advocacy articles about transit in Christchurch & NZ