Bus drivers' dispute widens

Actually the snapper system will eventually save work. In Singapore, a similar system works very well. Commuters just tag on & off as they board and alight buses, trains etc... No more (or very little) money exchange, clicking tickets, asking how much, checking whether someone has underpaid or overpaying ..... a snap!

"Both Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington regional council urged people not to turn to their cars and cause traffic gridlock" Uhmmm...so how are we supposed to get to work then? Teletransportation? This is so typical of people in management who aren't really suffering the consequences of this strike. What about those of us who don't have a car? I'm certainly not walking from the train station all the way to Newtown.

Phil,

Go Wellington didn't raise the bus fare, Metlink (regional council) who the buses run under contract to raised the fares to maintain bus shelters as you say.

The radio told us that services from Karori Park and Railway Station were affected this morning, but it looks like this seemed stop other services from Miramar or Seatoun running too!

Go Wellington has raised the ticket prices, they claim part of this is to maintain bus shelters; considering most of the modern shelters are owned by advertisers, where does this money go? They've got increased revenue by the increased passenger numbers over the last 12 months due to increased petrol prices.

As for the post by enforced excercise! - As long as you walk with me from Miramar to town and back every day, I'll do it too.

This situation is absolutely ridiculous. People rely on these services. There has been little notification, Surely as a "public" service someone should have been out there telling people there wouldn't be buses. I couldn't even find this story on Stuff, I had to come into the Dominion pages.

They definitely should be paid more! I agree, the snapper system has added a lot of extra work and hassle, and it's a hard and stressful job. Granted some drivers drive badly and are grumpy and rude, but you get this in every job. If I had to deal with thousands of commuters every day I'd not be too pleased either!

So... walking to work every day... well someone has to make me exercise!

The bus drivers should be getting paid more especially after the introduction of the new Snapper system they have had to endure. Personally, hearing "Please don't forget to tag off..." at every stop, would drive me crazy.

Good luck drivers!