Editorial: Bus idea makes perfect sense

The Citylink Whangarei open day is a good idea, says Craig Cooper.

Often we put the threat of a penalty on the table if we want to stop something.

Especially when it comes to children.

So what to do then when children (let's hope it is, as suggested, children) start throwing rocks at CityLink buses?

It's been happening in Otangarei, Raumanga and Onerahi.

In one case, a window was shattered and passengers inside left shaken. And fair enough - it would be quite a jolt to be minding your business riding along when suddenly, smash.

It has the potential to cause an accident as well, and when buses start crashing, the risk of injury and death rises.

Find the kids, and punish them?

Buses are a peculiar bedfellow with an environmental watchdog, but public transport falls under the auspices of the Northland Regional Council.

It so happens that one of the elected NRC councillors is a former police officer, Paul Dimery, and experienced in solutions for community challenges.

Which must have had a bearing on the approach that is being taken. Yes, the incidents have been reported to police. But a meeting has also taken place with community leaders, and a community day is being planned, to expose the buses to kids in a manner which will hopefully not result in someone peppering them with rocks.

The bus drivers are supportive of the idea - it might just work.

The kids obviously have a disconnect with the buses, and the people inside them.

A community discussion is a step closer to creating that connection and will help the young vandals "humanise" the inanimate objects that roll through their streets. Beyond the buses, it might also highlight demand for a service or recreational asset in Otangarei.

Otherwise the kids might just find something else to throw rocks at.