Public transport

Bus travel into Dunedin's city centre at weekends will become more direct and frequent with the introduction of new Saturday bus services, the Otago Regional Council says.

Leyland Leopard 194 will cruise the streets of Dunedin once again this Christmas.

It was the sight of a shiny bus driving past his home which got Ken McGregor hooked on his lifelong career.

The Dunedin City Council is considering a possible takeover of the Dunedin public transport network from the Otago Regional Council, which could pave the way for an overhaul of the service.

Proposals for the Dunedin City Council to take over the control of the city's buses have emerged again, this time with Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull confirming he has had preliminary discussions with Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead.

Bus company Passenger Transport is selling about 12 vehicles from its Dunedin fleet.

Proposed changes to the financial assistance rates for public transport and transport planning have been described by the Otago Regional Council as "offensive" and having gone "a bit too far".

New Dunedin bus timetables will be released this week outlining new routes and those with bike rack facilities.

Weary cyclists wanting a break from their hill-climb commute on Dunedin's steep streets will have a new option to "pick up" on from tomorrow, when bike racks make their debut on city bus routes.

Spiralling oil prices mean a radical rethink of Dunedin's public transport is needed, and the Dunedin City Council should take control of the network and consider new initiatives to boost patronage.

The Dunedin City Council will have to appoint a new representative to an Otago Regional Council-led transport committee or risk being excluded from final deliberations on a strategy outlining Otago's transport funding priorities.

A city the size of Dunedin needs reasonable public transport. Though substantial subsidies are required to maintain bus services, it is a cost which must be borne.

The sale of underperforming Dunedin City Council company Citibus Ltd - which has lost $800,000 in the past two years - has been revealed as the topic of last week's controversial non-public council meeting.

Long-term planning, by its very nature, involves the use of the present to predict the future and therefore carries a high risk of inherent failure.

A draft regional transportation policy encouraging housing development close to public transport links risks being "big brother" and too prescriptive, Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Vanessa van Uden says.

Phillip Cole advocates for wholesale change to Dunedin bus services.