The Star: November 09, 2023
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Grey Power concerns<br />
over cashless buses<br />
• By David Hill<br />
THE PROSPECT of cashless<br />
buses will cause anxiety for<br />
older residents, Grey Power’s Jan<br />
Pentecost says.<br />
She was reacting to<br />
Environment Canterbury’s<br />
decision to move to cashless<br />
buses next year, in the interests<br />
of staff safety.<br />
Passengers on the Greater<br />
Christchurch Metro Network<br />
will be unable to pay by cash<br />
from the second half of 2024, as<br />
part of the implementation of<br />
the National Ticketing Solution<br />
(NTS).<br />
“Many older people have used<br />
cash all their lives,’’ Pentecost<br />
said.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re are a group of our<br />
older people who go down to<br />
the ATM on pension day and<br />
withdraw most of their money<br />
and pay for everything by cash,<br />
because that is what they have<br />
always done.<br />
“When they are 80-odd, they<br />
get really anxious about all these<br />
changes.’’<br />
Over-65s can use their gold<br />
card to ride for free from 9am<br />
on weekdays and all weekend<br />
and public holidays, so many do<br />
not have a Metro card,<br />
Pentecost said.<br />
ECan customer service and<br />
public transport marketing<br />
manager Thomas McNaughton<br />
said Metro operators had<br />
advocated removing cash from<br />
buses and ferries for some time.<br />
“Over the last 18 months,<br />
staff have worked closely with<br />
operators and other partners to<br />
improve network safety for both<br />
staff and customers.<br />
“This has been in response<br />
to an increase in incidents and<br />
complaints around safety.’’<br />
He said about 12 percent of<br />
passenger trips were paid for by<br />
cash.<br />
<strong>The</strong> new NTS will provide<br />
payment options such as debit/<br />
credit card, a pre-paid card, or<br />
smart devices – but not cash.<br />
Patrons will be able to top-up<br />
pre-paid cards at service centres<br />
and online.<br />
Pentecost said overseas<br />
research has shown there will<br />
always be a group of people<br />
unable to use technology,<br />
whether due to cost or being<br />
unable to learn.<br />
“As we move to a cashless<br />
society and digital inclusion,<br />
it feels like old people don’t<br />
matter.’’<br />
– RNZ<br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
WORK IS about to start on the<br />
contentious 10km/h speed limit<br />
changes on Gloucester St.<br />
From Monday, contractors<br />
will be installing speed cushions,<br />
planters, seating and other street<br />
furniture in the section between<br />
Colombo St and Manchester St.<br />
<strong>The</strong> city council says the work<br />
is designed to make Gloucester St<br />
more people-friendly.<br />
Ninety per cent of the cost is<br />
being funded through Waka<br />
Kotahi’s Streets for People<br />
programme, aimed at making<br />
low-cost and rapid changes<br />
to streets ahead of permanent<br />
upgrades.<br />
<strong>The</strong> site was chosen because<br />
Gloucester St is home to the<br />
Performing Arts precinct and<br />
connects to New Regent St,<br />
as well as Tūranga, Te Pae<br />
Christchurch Convention Centre,<br />
Cathedral Square, and will also<br />
become home to the new Court<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre when it opens in May<br />
next year.<br />
City council transport<br />
planning and delivery manager<br />
Jacob Bradbury said the trial will<br />
help the city council understand<br />
how the changes will affect the<br />
area before any permanent work<br />
is considered.<br />
“We are very keen to hear what<br />
people think about the changes<br />
once they’re installed so we’re<br />
really encouraging feedback<br />
during the trial,” he said.<br />
“We’ll also be actively<br />
monitoring traffic and watching<br />
to see how people move through<br />
and use the area. This helps us see<br />
what works and what doesn’t, and<br />
we can quickly make changes<br />
based on feedback.”<br />
Thursday <strong>November</strong> 9 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong><br />
NEWS 5<br />
10km/h speed trial to<br />
begin on Gloucester St<br />
ENVIRONMENT: <strong>The</strong> pedestrian-friendly trial will allow a<br />
two-way traffic flow, with speeds reduced to 10 km/h.<br />
Once installed, people will<br />
be able to provide feedback at<br />
letstalk.ccc.govt.nz<br />
A trial was due to be launched<br />
earlier this year. It was put on<br />
hold due to concerns about<br />
the one-way design from some<br />
stakeholders.<br />
In September, city councillors<br />
moved a motion to continue the<br />
work with a design to allow for<br />
two-way traffic.<br />
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