WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO SAVE THE SCHOOL BUSES IN TAURANGA.

PLEASE SIGN UP TO THIS PETITION SO THAT WE CAN:

• KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE
• GET THEM TO SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
• NOT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROAD
• ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO USE THE BUS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF BUS USERS

Bay of Plenty Regional Council are proposing a new public bus network. As part of this proposal, they will slash 45** school bus routes down to 11. They are proposing that school children (including primary school children) will have to take the public bus.

(** this is actually 90 routes, however, the total is different from combining all schools as most services go to more than one school).

The Ministry of Education website states that school bus routes should get the students to and from school quickly and safe.

The proposal will have fewer direct routes to school. There will be a significant number of increases in bus changes for students when negotiating the proposed public network.

Many students will have to take 2 buses to school (some even 3!). This will mean the journey to school will take longer.

Some of the bus hubs/terminals (where the students have to get off and wait for the next bus) have limited shelter. Your child will have to wait in the rain. Also, do you think it is safe for school children to hang around at bus hubs?

For some routes, the students (including primary school children) have to cross the busy Cameron Road to transfer to the second bus? Do you consider this safe?

Students and parents will students will be driving to school. This will increase the traffic congestion in the city.

What happens when the bus is full? Children get very stressed when they are late for school.

The proposed public bus network is supposed to encourage more bus users. The abolition of school buses will have the opposite effect.

Current and potential public users will be reluctant to get on buses that are full of school children.

As a current bus user or if you are thinking of getting the bus, would you want to get on a bus full of school kids? What happens if the bus is full and you can't get on?

The proposed changes will mean:

• longer journeys to and from school
• the children will be less safe
• increase in the number of cars on the road.

The Council require feedback by 6 June 2017.

There's not much time. Please register your support before it's too late.