A school bus run between Port Chalmers and Dunedin is the first victim of a chronic shortage of bus drivers in the city, Dunedin Passenger Transport (DPT) director Kayne Baas says.
Mr Baas said it was possible more school bus services around the city might be cut at very short notice. The bus service cancelled this week leaves about 40 Otago Girls High School, Otago Boys High School and Kavanagh College pupils scrambling to find alternative transport.
‘‘We are struggling to fulfil the essential bus services we supply. We don't have enough drivers to fulfil the commercial routes, so the Port Chalmers school bus run was the first to go. Other bus companies in Dunedin are having the same problem.''
Mr Baas said bus drivers were becoming difficult to find because the Government had increased the price of obtaining a P Class licence to up to $1300 to sit and $100 a year to retain.
Land Transport New Zealand also raised standards for who was eligible to become a bus driver. And, Mr Baas said, pay rates for bus drivers were extremely low and many drivers went into other driving professions such as taxi or truck driving.
The new Holidays Act, which stipulated employees must get an extra week of holidays, had also affected DPT's decision to cancel the service, he said.
‘‘A third of our drivers are over their retirement age. The only reason they keep driving is because they enjoy it. We could do with five or more drivers tomorrow. That would allow us to put the Port Chalmers school bus back on route.''
Otago Girls High School principal Jan Anderson said she was horrified by the situation. ‘‘It's much better for teens to be on a bus which drops them at school. With school buses we have a certain amount of control over the pupils - things as simple as making sure they get to school on time.''
Mrs Anderson said the schools did not have a written contract with the bus company.
Historically, the bus route has been a problem for the company. In 2004, they warned that dozens of Dunedin school children would face losing their bus service if it was not better patronised in the mornings.
The company planned to put advertisements on the back of their buses next week calling for more drivers. Mr Baas said any respondents would be given financial assistance in getting their P Licence.
In the meantime, Mr Baas said he would get back behind the wheel after many years away from bus driving to help cover night shifts on top of his daily duties as the company's director.
The cancellation of the service has left many parents fuming. Port Chalmers parent Kris McLeod was frustrated. ‘‘On Monday, my son was told at school that the bus would not be running anymore. No explanation was given as to why." she said.
‘‘I'm annoyed about it. All the kids from Kings, Queens and Logan Park High Schools still have their bus service. Why have they cut ours? Do they think we won't make a fuss?''
Mrs McLeod said school pupils had effectively been forced to use the public bus. While it was cheaper to use the public transport, which cost $1.60 each way, compared to $2.50 each way for the school service, it was ‘‘a real hassle''.
The public service left Port Chalmers 20 minutes earlier and departed the city 40 minutes later from in the city, as opposed to outside the schools.
Another concerned parent, Helen Gillam, said the public bus was now very congested, with many pupils having to stand in the aisle.
