Bus bike-rack trial successful

New Zealand buses could soon sport bike racks after a successful six-month trial in Christchurch.

Environment Canterbury (ECan), which ran the trial, will meet the New Zealand Transport Agency today to discuss the trial and the law change needed to allow buses to carry the racks.

Ten Christchurch routes, including those to Lyttelton, Halswell, Huntsbury and the airport, will carry cycle racks after contracts are retendered in November.

Rangiora will be negotiated separately.

The racks, which cost $2000 each, are fitted to the front of the bus and can carry two bikes.

The chairman of cycling group Spokes, Paul de Spa, said ECan should be congratulated, but "the sooner every single bus in the city has one the better".

ECan councillors yesterday approved the $150,000, five-year project, half paid by the Government, despite its cost-cutting exercise last year, when it slashed a proposed 8 per cent increase in spending to 1 per cent.

ECan assistant manager of passenger services David Stenhouse said the expansion to other bus routes could more than pay for itself through extra patronage, based on United States studies. However, councillors balked at putting racks on every bus, tying any expansion beyond that agreed yesterday to a further evaluation.

Councillor Jo Kane said such a "Rolls-Royce" scheme would have to wait.

Red Bus chief executive Paul McNoe said there were risks, including safety concerns, of expanding the trial city-wide.

"We think the wishes of the small cycling group need to be balanced against the broader implication for the majority of bus users and the significant business risk that is being created for public transport operators," he said.

Stenhouse said other operators had similar concerns to Red Bus until they took part in the trial.

ECan has been regularly lobbied since 1998 to fit racks to buses, especially those that run to Lyttelton. The Christchurch trial carried an average of four bikes a day on the route from Lyttelton to Heathcote via the city.

Buses to Mt Pleasant, Rangiora and Redwood also had racks fitted.

Stenhouse said bus drivers were happy with the racks, which the trial proved did not delay services.

The Bus Exchange is not equipped for the bikes' pickup or removal, so they are removed at the stop preceding the exchange and, if the person is travelling through, they can rejoin the bus on the first stop after the exchange.

A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Transport Agency said it would be inappropriate to comment before today's meeting.

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