Free buses may spark people's 'mode shift' from cars - councillor

A Canterbury regional councillor wants the government to get on board with his proposal for free bus travel round Christchurch for the next two years.

Mid-Canterbury councillor John Sunckell told Morning Report that the Canterbury Regional Council should trial free buses in the city to see if it increases patronage.

"It's not necessarily my natural environment, being sort of centre right, but when I look at the fact that we have declared a climate emergency at Environment Canterbury, that the government's declared one itself and then look at the Climate Commission's targets, we are going to be required to significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

"Somewhere like Christchurch, where 53, 54 percent of our emissions are transport related, it's how do we transition people, mode shift them from cars to public transport?"

ECan is proposing a 24.5 percent increase in rates for the next financial year.

Sunckell said pre-Covid-19 ECan recovered about 37 percent of public transport costs from bus commuters, NZ Transport Agency paid about 51 percent of the difference and the ratepayers paid the rest.

He said his proposal would leave about a $35 million shortfall which could cost each ratepayer in Christchurch and its surrounds an extra $220 a year.

Sunckell said some of that should be covered by extra funding from central government.

"I would argue strongly that if it is a climate emergency, if central government is really keen on mode shift or shifting people across [to buses] then we would want greater assistance."

He said councils need more help to respond to the climate emergency and NZTA should pay around 66 percent.

Sunckell said he has been warned he is stepping into "dangerous territory" and his proposal may prompt a backlash from ratepayers.

"I guess for me this is a public policy debate that we have to have."

His plan will be heard by the Canterbury Regional Council tomorrow.