Editorial: Don't diss AT shuttle - it's an idea that could travel

The agency says the shuttle has reduced its car fleet and contributed to its efficiency. Photo / Greg Bowker

Driving staff between offices looks bad, but time for paid ride-sharing may have come

The Auckland Council and its transport agency are inviting ridicule with a trial of shuttle buses for their staff. The shuttles carry staff between offices in different parts of the city, even when the buildings are within easy reach of the public transport that the council and its agency provide.

Travelling between Britomart and Henderson, for example, Auckland Transport's shuttle runs alongside buses and AT trains, passing them. The shuttle arrives 15 minutes ahead of the bus and 20 minutes ahead of the train.

What is good enough for the public, AT seems to be saying, is not good enough for its staff. In fact, the agency says the shuttle has reduced its car fleet and contributed to its efficiency. It clearly hopes to be copied by other organisations with multiple outlets in the region.

If its staff were not using the shuttle they would be in council or AT cars, contributing to congestion. So Auckland should give the shuttles a guarded welcome.

It may be that even on a flexible schedule, shared rides do not suit most people. Reporters found AT's vehicle under-used this week.

Shuttles may need to be run as stand-alone commercial operations on call to larger pools of customers than any single organisation contains. In that event, shuttles would be performing a public transport service themselves. It's an idea that looks feasible with internet technology.

The future may be in shared-ride, door-to-door services rather than fixed routes between terminals. It's a long shot from this point but it might not pay to scoff at AT's experiment too soon.