Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
PASSENGERS * UK - More people leaving cars at home
People travelling into Nottingham are switching from cars to buses and trams in increasing numbers, new figures revealNottingham,England,UK -This is Nottingham - October 13, 2008: -- ... The number of journeys made on public transport increased by 700,000 last year... At the same time income was down at city council car parks because fewer motorists are using them... Council officers believe the figures suggest a steady shift away from car use... Andy Gibbons, public transport officer at the council, said bus use was already high in Nottingham compared to other cities...Labels: new passengers
PASSENGERS * New Zealand - More Drivers Ditch Their Cars And Catch The Bus
The rising price of petrol is changing people's travel habits in Rotorua and Tauranga with an increase in the number of car-owning residents choosing to travel by bus instead, according to a recent survey
Wellington,New Zealand -Voxy - 25 September 2008: -- ... This trend was revealed through an independent telephone survey of 850 residents by Environment Bay of Plenty, which funds public bus services in the Bay of Plenty. Tauranga and Rotorua bus services are excellent or very good value for money, according to about 90 per cent of bus passengers surveyed... More than 80 per cent of bus passengers in Rotorua and Tauranga are satisfied with bus services... Around 65 per cent of passengers are using buses up to three times a week. There is an increase of up to 12 per cent in the number of passengers commuting to work by bus in Rotorua, while Tauranga has seen a 4 per cent increase. About half of the passengers surveyed owned a car, but chose to travel by bus instead... The survey also found that a fifth of passengers travelled by bus because it was cheaper than driving and was good value... Labels: new passengers
Gas Prices Increase * USA - More Inland commuters use public transit
Riverside,CA,USA -The Press-Enterprise, by DUG BEGLEY -June 10, 2008: -- ... As more people make the leap to public transit, however, Inland transit agencies are scrambling to meet the demand without seriously increasing their own costs... Inland bus stops are also bustling. Ridership for April was up 12.6 percent overall and it increased more than 40 percent on some commuter lines, according to a Riverside Transit Agency report. Omnitrans in San Bernardino County also reported a 3.6 percent increase in overall bus ridership during April... The Rideshare carpool program managed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission is also busier... John Standiford, the agency's deputy executive director, said calls to the program are up 40 percent for the first four months of 2008, compared with 2007... Many commuters are using public transportation because they're fed up with filling their gas tanks, officials said... (Photo by Silvia Flores / The Press-Enterprise - Arnold McClain, of Moreno Valley, takes the Metrolink to his job in Irvine. It's cheaper to ride the train and have his wife pick him up at the station, he said, than to buy gasoline)Labels: new passengers
* USA - Gas prices killing your budget? Why not hop on the bus instead?
Seattle,WASH,USA -The Seattle Post Intelligencer, by MOISES MENDOZA -10 June 2008: -- ... As gas prices skyrocket, more Seattle-area residents such as Smith are parking their cars and taking the bus... The proof is in the numbers. During the first few months of 2008, King County Metro Transit buses averaged 376,000 boardings per day, a 6 percent increase over a year earlier, said Metro Transit spokeswoman Linda Thielke. In April, there were 395,000 boardings -- a record... And crowded or not, riders should always be prepared to face unusual situations, employees and riders say... But the societal cross section that rides the bus -- everyone from homeless folks to businessmen to tourists from Japan -- may be one of its appeals. Smith said it is for him, despite that unfortunate puking incident... John Fabre, who has been driving buses for 38 years, agrees. "You meet interesting people all the time," he said. "I have this thing, I like to talk to people. People are easy to talk to if they feel comfortable with you."... (Photo by Dan DeLong / P-I - Riders wait to board a Metro bus Monday at the International District platform in the bus tunnel. With crowding a concern at peak hours, Metro announced Friday it is adding 22 new buses to ease the situation)Labels: new passengers
