Imagining greener transport

The brief was to use technology to help save the world from environmental disaster - and four Canterbury University students say they have done just that.

Louis Sayers, 21, Yugan Yugaraja, 20, Janina Voigt, 21, and Stephen Fitchett, 20, have spent six months developing the Taxibus system, which they say will reduce congestion and pollution.

They created the system for Microsoft's Imagine Cup, an international competition designed to foster interest among young people in information technology.

The theme for this year's event is: "Imagine a world where technology enables a more sustainable environment."

The four, who call themselves Team Phoenix, are the only South Island team to make it into the New Zealand final. Twelve teams of tertiary students entered, but only four were selected for the final.

The winning team, which will be announced tomorrow, will be flown to Paris for the international final in July with a chance to win $US15,000 ($NZ19,000).

While Team Phoenix has been focusing on winning the competition, the project has developed a life of its own with a Christchurch transport company interested in commercialising the concept.

Taxibus is a new form of public transport, putting together the convenience of a car and the value for money and environmental benefit provided by buses.

The system allows people to order a Taxibus by sending a text. A minibus would arrive in minutes and then drop the person off at their destination while picking up others going in the same general direction.

Voigt said the journey would take longer but it would be cheaper than a taxi and reduce vehicle emissions.

Sayers said if 5000 people in Christchurch used Taxibus it would cost $3.60 a ride, but it would be cheaper if the scheme was able to secure a Government transport subsidy.

Those same numbers would also result in a 20 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to if those people used their cars.

Taxibus was different to car pooling because it would use registered drivers, Voigt said.

The team wanted to run a trial scheme in Riccarton to target students and shoppers, which would cost about $2 a trip.