Workable bus service would pay for itself

It is well known it is already cheaper to commute by bus than it is to own and run a car. The lower cost, however, has not encouraged more passengers to use the service and our buses are often seen driving wastefully around, almost or actually empty. It must therefore be concluded that cost is not the only criteria by which individuals choose their mode of transportation.

On a visit to Jersey a few years ago, I caught the bus from St Helier to Gorey. I paid, I recall, something in the region of £1.60 each way, therefore a far-from-free service. The bus, however, was completely full – not even any standing room was left. If we were to charge as much as £2 each way to our commuters for their bus use, it would still be cheaper for them than owning and running a car. I therefore implore the States to put a stop to the unjust strategy proposal to rob money from car drivers in order to give a free ride to bus passengers, most of whom can more than afford the full cost of their own travel.

It is further questionable how we would accurately keep track of and prove bus passenger numbers without the application of financial consideration and resulting trail of auditable data.

If, however, we assume the current proposal is approved, the question arises: How many decades will we run the new batch of expensive-to-buy, empty buses around the island at great cost, but for little benefit, before anyone puts a stop to it? I suggest a bus service as good as has sometimes been lauded by some will pay its own way and be attractive to use on its own merit. If not, we are wasting both valuable time and money on something that is unsustainable through its own inadequacy, or lack of an identifiable need.

Car drivers already pay their way in all respects by contributing a huge amount of money into States coffers every year as it is, through tax on fuel, not to mention through the range of associated sales, support services and insurance clerk jobs and the associated tax and social insurance on all their salaries. Why should drivers pay even more in order to pay for free bus transport and infrastructure for just 3% of the population? (1% if you remove the pensioners that have enjoyed a free bus pass for years). In addition, how many millions is it the transport strategists propose to spend on a new bus depot for that tiny 1 to 3 % population? We are not that close to 1 April yet, are we?

Name and address withheld.