City and regional councillors were also offered the survey form.
CITY COUNCIL:
• Mayor Dave Cull, of Challis Pt, said he intended biking to work as often as possible and would "probably not" use buses this year. He remarked that the main street would be "so much quieter if [buses] were electric".
• Cr Colin Weatherall, of Brighton, said he "occasionally" used the buses and would use them "when I can". He believed the congestion in the main street "needs sorted", electric shuttle buses should be considered for some routes and "meaningful incentives" offered to students.
• Cr Bill Acklin, of Andersons Bay, said he would use buses "only from time to time" but considered buses "too slow and too expensive". He would use buses if there was more traffic congestion.
• Cr Kate Wilson, of Middlemarch, said she liked buses but expected running a bus service from the hinterland to central Dunedin would probably not be economic.
• Cr Richard Thomson, of Waverley, was unlikely to use buses this year because he needed a vehicle during the day.
REGIONAL COUNCIL:
• Cr Sam Neill, Otago Peninsula, considered the peninsula was "almost over-serviced" with buses.
• Cr Brian Scott, of Opoho, said he usually biked to work but also regularly used the buses. He expected it would take "external change" such as increased fuel prices and increased inner-city parking fees to increase patronage.
• Cr Trevor Kempton, of Andersons Bay, said he will use the buses this year.
"The Dunedin City Council has planned for and built an exceptionally car-friendly city and until such time as it takes seriously the wider objective of sustainable management in its approach to parking, capital roading projects, pedestrian precincts and district plan, not even a free bus system would attract a lot of extra patronage."
• Cr Michael Deaker, of Opoho, said he "quite often" took the bus and the Opoho-City service was "quick, pleasant and easy. The drivers are great."
He considered the service had "improved greatly" in quality and service. "Given the shape and size of Dunedin, they are probably almost as good as they could be."
- Cr Deaker is co-chairman of the Passenger Transport Working Group.
