Bus-ting for ride to work

On some busy Auckland routes, buses aren't stopping because they already full to capacity. Photo / Doug Sherring

Workers forced on to public transport by soaring petrol prices are having to contend with a lack of buses on key routes in Auckland.

Commuters said this week they often saw up to three full buses drive past their stops because there was no room for more passengers.

Under-pressure providers are trying to borrow buses from quake-hit Christchurch and pressing older vehicles back into service.

But Auckland Mayor Len Brown, who made better public transport a key part of his election campaign, said it was a "hell of a good problem to have".

The Herald on Sunday revealed last month that the number of people using public transport had reached record levels since the price of 91 unleaded fuel topped $2 a litre.

Some commuters are so fed up with full buses they are switching services to less convenient stops.

Others have given up and decided to walk to work.

The problems aren't just during rush hour. A bus from central Auckland to the North Shore at 8.30pm on Thursday was standing room only.

Auckland Transport, the Auckland Council body running public transport, was reluctant to comment.

The organisation referred inquiries about specific routes to the companies that operate them.

Rachel Drew, chief commercial officer of NZ Bus, Auckland's largest provider, said a $50 million consignment of 120 new buses was expected in June.

In the meantime, the company was considering short-term solutions.

"Where there is fleet available, there is the option of using older buses as a temporary measure while we wait for new stock," Drew said.

The company was considering leasing buses but had not finalised any plans.

"We're reacting as quickly as we can to a rapidly changing situation," Drew said.

Ritchie's Bus Company director Andrew Ritchie said he wanted to lease 12 to 14 buses from Christchurch operator Go Bus and hoped to have them on the road within a month.

Christchurch operators were running at about 30 per cent capacity after the February earthquake and would welcome the extra money by leasing their buses out, he said.

Ritchie was against putting older stock back on the road.

"It's really good getting this growth but if we put old buses on there and the quality of service drops it would put people off." The company had no plans to buy new buses because it had an ongoing replacement policy.

Howick & Eastern operations manager Sheryll Otway said the company was running double services at peak times to cope with demand.

She said Howick & Eastern would order more buses but couldn't say how many because the plans hadn't been finalised.

Meanwhile, Mayor Brown was confident companies were making plans for enough stock to cope with rising demand.

When told about full buses leaving passengers behind, he said it was a "hell of a good problem to have".

As for people opting to walk because of overloading, he said: "If they're only walking 500m to 1km that's great for fitness levels."

He urged people to "be patient" and said there would be more buses "in due course".

Council officers were also monitoring levels weekly to see the extent of demand across the city.

The number of bus passengers in Auckland rose 7.5 per cent in the year to February 28.

Campaign for Better transport convenor Cameron Pitches said there should be more investment in the service.

"We hope that the Government is coming round. They've been reluctant to invest in public transport."

He also said fares had to come down to encourage more people on to an appropriately-sized bus fleet.

"It's the people travelling long-distance who have been the most effective in reducing congestion. The fare structure has to reward these people for spending an hour of their time [on the bus]."

Auckland Transport spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said bus fare rises in the past 10 years were lower than the cost of living.

'I'm really angry I'd rather walk'

Frustrated commuters vented their anger after being refused access to a bus on Friday.

The 274 Britomart-bound service stopped near the intersection of Mt Eden Rd and Esplanade Rd at 8.45am.

Some of those waiting were allowed on - others were told to wait for the next service.

Monica Marsh, a 53-year-old receptionist, said she had starting catching a bus to Victoria St, instead of Britomart where she works, because her regular service is usually full.

"Normally one bus would drive by but now it's three in a row doing it."

Georgia Johnstone, a 19-year-old student, said: "I'm really angry. I'd rather walk, to be honest, because I know I'd get where I want when I want."

Michael Green, a 26-year-old team leader, said: "I've experienced it when three buses have gone past, it's left a lot of people feeling frustrated."

Rachel Deller, a 25-year-old charity worker, said: "You get four full buses then one empty. I tend to get [to work] later and later at the moment."