More buses sought for level 2

Some Christchurch public transport users say they want more buses on the roads after being left behind several times this week.

Buses are running at reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing, with stickers and signs indicating which seats are available. But it has meant some people have been left waiting at bus stops as multiple buses already at their capacity limits drive by.

Most users have also shunned the website-based contact tracing system brought in by authorities. Just 6 per cent of the 97,000-odd trips made during coronavirus alert level 2 have been logged on the contact tracing system.

Earthmover Chris Thian, 29, said he wanted more buses running after he missed five this week due to the ‘‘incredible’’ number of people already on board.

His latest missed bus yesterday afternoon left him waiting at the Christchurch Bus Interchange for more than 30 minutes.

‘‘More buses would help but I don’t know if they’d put more buses on. This is pretty insane.’’

Student Zekaiyah Keen, 16, said she missed out on two blue line buses yesterday morning, making her an hour later for school than normal.

‘‘I was rejected off the bus because there were 16 people on both of the rides ... they just kept driving past and I didn’t actually know what was wrong.

‘‘I was like so confused ... [and] really cold,’’ she said.

Pat McBride, 70, said this week was the first time he had used Christchurch’s bus service since moving to the city 10 years ago.

He had not missed a bus because of the limited capacity.

McBride said he had not used the contact tracing website, and was not concerned about its low usage.

‘‘It’s possibly going to be a bit difficult to follow through because there’s just contact with too many people on too many sites,’’ he said.

Andrea Dawber, 63, said she had no trouble catching any buses, and they had all run to schedule.

‘‘It’s clearly indicated where you sit so there’s been spacing and I felt really comfortable.’’

Patronage on Canterbury’s public transport network, which is managed by Environment Canterbury (ECan), has increased as Covid-19 restrictions ease, but remains well below the same time last year.

Senior public transport manager Stewart Gibbon said patronage in Christchurch was currently only 45 per cent of what it was in May 2019.

Changes to ensure social distancing meant there was not enough space for everyone during the peak times of 7am to 9am and 2.30pm to 5.30pm, he said. Urban buses were running at 40 per cent capacity.

‘‘If you have alternative ways of getting to work or school, such as biking, walking, scootering or carpooling, please use these for a little while.

‘‘Alert level 2 is simply not business as usual, and we are not going to be able to supply enough capacity on the buses to guarantee space for everyone who needs to travel.’’