The problem:
Our
greenhouse gas emissions need to come down quickly to do our part in preventing
climate catastrophe. 53% of Christchurch’s greenhouse gas emissions come from
transport – mainly cars and trucks.
Solution:
Free bus and rail travel in
Christchurch City. This is the single
most important way Christchurch can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
What would this look like?
Comfortable, modern,
low-emission buses, fitted with free wifi, would provide free and frequent
travel along transport corridors to all parts of the Christchurch City – up to
Rangiora, West to Darfield and South to Lyttelton. A plan for the future
development of fare-free tram and train services would be prioritized.
What would it cost?
Taking into account the
current bus fares collected by ECAN (which runs the bus service) the initial
operating cost of the policy would be approximately $20 million per year.
However, it would also require capital investment to double the number of buses
over the next five years as residents move to public transport.
Where will the money come from?
From funding already
allocated for new road building in Christchurch. This would require negotiation
with the government and ECAN but with a strong mandate from Christchurch in the
election this would be easily achievable. The policy would lead to a rethink of
the hugely expensive and unsustainable roading projects currently being developed
for Christchurch.
Why don’t we just build more roads to reduce
congestion?
It’s irresponsible to promote
roads with the environmental crisis we face through greenhouse gas emissions
and global warming. Public transport is far cleaner and greener and this policy
would significantly reduce Christchurch’s carbon footprint. A person who
switches from their car to a full bus has 15 times lower greenhouse gas
emissions.
In any case the experience
elsewhere has been that new roads just mean getting to the traffic jam
quicker.
Will Christchurch be the first city to do this?
No, but we’ll be the first
city in Australasia to run free and frequent public transport.
So where else is it working?
Other cities ahead of us
include Tallinn in Estonia, Dunkirk in France and Chengdu, capital of China’s
Sichuan province and the fourth largest city in China where many of the main
transport corridors run free buses. Germany is considering making public
transport free across the country to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
What are the benefits?
- EVERYBODY benefits – even those who never use a bus or train will
be able to travel on a gridlock-free roading network.
- No extra charges for anyone - no rates increases, no extra fuel taxes, no
congestion charges, no network charges, no toll roads, no PPPs, …
- Improved productivity – roading congestion costs Christchurch tens
of millions in lost productivity every year. This policy will release that lost
productivity and enable better pay for workers. NOTE: The New Zealand
Initiative tells us we need higher productivity to get higher wage increases.
Here’s a golden opportunity to pass on these productivity increases to workers
in wages.
- Faster bus travel as no time wasted collecting fares
- Revitalising central Christchurch as more people travel to enjoy the central
city, Lyttelton and the city beaches.
- Cleaner and greener – this may well be the single greenest policy
in the history of New Zealand! - less
pollution, a smaller carbon footprint and big ups to the environment!
- Savings for workers and reduced income
inequality. The Mayor of Tallinn has
called it the “13th monthly salary” because of estimates the policy
saves a month’s salary each year for workers using free public transport.
People on low and middle incomes spend a higher proportion of their income on
transport than those on higher incomes so this will help reduce inequality.
- Economic stimulation as workers have significantly more to spend in
the real economy.
- A tourism boost as tourists relish the chance to see all parts of Christchurch.
Who loses?
The big oil companies and car
manufacturers. They make a mint from petrol and diesel burned up pointlessly on
our congested roads every day.
Note: John writing on
Free and Frequent public transport for Christchurch in 2016 HERE
