Kiwi stories on daily commute
A new project gives Christchurch commuters an easy and mobile way to catch up on local literature while they travel.
Buses running between the airport and the central city were fitted with QR codes, which passengers can scan with a smartphone to access one of 20 short stories by New Zealand authors. The route, number 29, carries over 200,000 passengers a year.
The Stories on the Go project has been driven by Magdalena Lorenzo, a regular bus user and avid reader who is behind The Commuting Book, a non-profit group aiming to bring reading into public spaces and people’s daily activities.
Lorenzo said the group thought using public spaces was the best way to get people into the habit of reading. The goal for Stories on the Go is to help those who want to start reading again, as not everyone has time to read a full book. ‘‘So by having this daily dose of literature, hopefully it will build up in time and they will say ‘oh I will go to the library and borrow a book, or go and buy one’.’’
The project emerged from The Commuting Book’s previous efforts – it has run book exchanges at select bus stops since 2016.
The first 20 stories feature a mix of established and upcoming New Zealand authors and students. Some are from authors featured in the Word Christchurch literary festival. They are mostly fiction, including short stories, poems and a chapter excerpt. Some are aimed at children and one is available in te reo Ma¯ ori and English.
Lorenzo aims to showcase about 120 different stories in the first year, hoping to swap stories every couple of months.
She said she hoped to see the project expand to public spaces, waiting rooms and in other public transport in Christchurch and other cities.
Red Bus chief executive Paul McNoe said Lorenzo approached the company about 18 months ago with the idea, which was ‘‘a really good fit with public transport’’. ‘‘I think people see public transport and being a bit utilitarian, and this is really about trying to create a good experience.’’
McNoe said there were no formal plans to expand the scheme to other bus routes, but thought it was ‘‘the logical thing to do’’ as it was simple to set up.
The airport to city route was selected for the trial because it attracts a mix of visitors and locals. Environment Canterbury is trialling wifi on the route, and Red Bus will trial three fully electric buses on the route starting next year.