Free travel a good start but what about the rest?

The Green Party welcomes free off-peak public transport for superannuitants but says the most urgent thing is better quality, more reliable and more frequent services.

“The Green Party agrees that public transport needs to be more accessible to more people, and part of the solution is lowering the cost to passengers, particularly for off-peak services, which often run with just a few passengers anyway,” Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.

“However, it is a shame this initiative only covers superannuitants. So now Bob Jones can travel for free, but a young mum earning minimum wage can’t.

“The Green Party’s recently announced policy to make all off-peak trips $1 for paying passengers will mean travelling by public transport is financially feasible for everyone, not just those over the age of 65.

“We estimate that this will cost nothing. Off peak services are running now with lots of spare capacity. Even a $1 fare that attracts more passengers will make money.

“Even during peak times taking public transport could be much more affordable. The Green Party wants cheaper day, week and month passes and a 50 percent discount for children, students and beneficiaries,” Ms Fitzsimons says.

“The Government must start investing in public transport, rather than kicking it to the curb in favour of yet more motorways as they have been doing for the last nine years. New Zealand desperately needs more frequent services, more routes to and between suburbs, and cheaper fares.

“It is not good enough to just hand out free bus passes. There must also be investment in transport infrastructure so there are buses, trains and ferries for people to get on. So far, this is not the case.

“It is simply not realistic to expect people to keep up with the ever increasing cost of petrol. The Government must accept all New Zealanders regardless of age want to reduce transport costs, they want to reduce carbon emissions and they want to avoid the daily queues of traffic that keep them from their families.”