- By Parmjeet Parmar, Pakuranga-based ACT List MP
When you take the bus in Pakuranga or anywhere in Auckland you deserve to feel safe, and our city’s bus drivers should be safe too.
Sadly, reports of crimes on buses, both against passengers and drivers, have created real fear for some public transport users.
It’s clear Auckland Transport (AT) needs to introduce more safety measures on buses, and faster.
Recently I spoke with the chief executive of a major bus contractor for AT.
He identified a major driver of anti-social and criminal behaviour on buses: AT’s policies that encourage people unwilling to pay a fare to board the bus.
In 2020, AT introduced a de facto ‘travel for free’ policy in response to Covid.
AT removed cash from buses and advised operators that passengers without balance on their HOP cards should be allowed to travel regardless.
This policy continues today. It means some people now believe they’re entitled to take the bus for free.
This results in disputes with bus drivers, and it means unstable, marginalised, or intoxicated individuals use the bus as a free ride or shelter.
Both situations increase the risk of attacks on drivers and passengers.
AT needs to change its policy and send a strong message that fare-dodging is not welcome.
We shouldn’t ask bus drivers to kick fare dodgers off public transport, but AT needs to take responsibility for a culture it’s created that invites free riders to take advantage of the rest of us.
Anti-social fare dodgers discourage Aucklanders from using public transport.
They deprive AT of revenue and load costs onto rule-abiding ratepayers.
They’re threatening, stealing from, and assaulting bus drivers and passengers.
When we turn a blind eye to repeated fare-dodging, we send a message that rules – and basic respect – don’t matter. Is it any wonder this then leads to violence?
The bus operator I spoke with suggested a mobile “flying squad” to respond to fare dodgers and provide enforcement, with greater support from AT officers, police, and security guards.
In short, we need to get tough. The operator’s raised his concerns with AT repeatedly.
He’s not been satisfied with their answers. ACT is not satisfied either.
I’ve requested a meeting with AT to discuss bus safety because Aucklanders deserve better.
