Editorial: If it ain't broke, don't fix it

Plans are afoot to change Tauranga's school bus system. Photo/file

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is proposing to cut 34 of Tauranga's 45 school buses and use the $1.5 million saved towards more frequent public bus services.

Instead of catching a Schoolhopper bus, this would mean many children have to catch the Bayhopper buses with members of the public. Some will also have to take two buses.

In May, regional council Public Transportation Committee chairman Lyall Thurston said school bus trips were being subsidised by ratepayers and operating costs had become "untenable". He said there needed to be some compromises to bring us in line with other parts of the country.

I don't understand why Tauranga needs to operate the same as other cities. Why can't we do what's right for us, regardless of what's happening elsewhere?

The costs to run those extra bus services for schoolkids seem a good investment to me - it ensures all children can get to school safely and on time, regardless of where they live or what time their parents start work.

Worried parents will soon start dropping their children off at the gates rather than let them catch the bus with unknown adults, adding even more cars to our congested roads.

School traffic is already a huge contributor to Tauranga's traffic woes - ask any regular commuter how much quicker it is to get to work in the school holidays.

It also means there's less chance a rebellious teen will be able to wag school - how easy will it be for students to get off the bus at Bayfair, change out of their school uniform and skive off for the rest of the day?

Our public bus service does need improving, but not at the expense of the most regular of all bus users - schoolkids.