Fast facts about a slow and costly service

Clipping the tickets

* More people than ever are hopping on to a bus in Auckland. Passenger growth is said to be greater than many other cities in the world.

* During the past three years, Auckland has seen 23 per cent growth in trips on buses and ferries - from 38 million passenger trips in 2000 to 47 million this year. This is expected to rise to 51 million by June.

* The increased demand is mainly for peak morning and evening services.

* Ratepayers subsidise 45 per cent of Auckland bus services, compared with 60 per cent in Wellington and 95 per cent in Christchurch.

* The Auckland Regional Council says public transport contracts and services for 2003-2004 require $20.6 million from ratepayers - up $3.3 million on 2002-2003.

* Operators are looking to bigger 51-seat buses, at a cost of $290,000 each, to cope with peak demands.

What passengers are saying

* "If I had walked from the Downtown ferry terminal instead of wasting 20 minutes waiting for buses that didn't arrive, I would have got to work around 7.55am instead of 8.10am."

* "Here on the North Shore there seems to be a huge lack of buses running through different parts."

* "Nothing runs from West Auckland to most North Shore suburbs. I live in Ranui. To get to work in Browns Bay and back took five hours, and it was via the city."

* "University started four weeks ago. Surely the students would have settled into a routine by now - meaning this is how full the buses are going to be until the semester break."

* "I feel sorry for the numerous people who are waiting at the bus stop after mine who have absolutely no hope of getting on the bus from Sandringham Rd."

* "I waited for at least an hour in Sandringham from 7.30am before I was jammed in by a kindly bus driver who didn't drive past."

What do you think?

We want to hear your stories about the city's buses.
Email the Herald News Desk or fax (09) 373 6421.