Otago Regional Council criticises one size suits all criteria for proposed NZTA urban bus standards

Citibus operates high quality Designline low floor buses in Dunedin. But Otago Regional Council believes proposed NZTA mandatory urban bus standards may not reflect requirements specific to their region

Photo Wikimedia Commons

Tranzwatching in Dunedin and Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand
  
The Otago Regional Council is unhappy with the one size suits all cities, national mandatory standards for urban buses, being proposed by NZ Transport Agency. These new standards would mean regional councils calling for tenders to operate routes will no longer be able to demand or set or monitor standards specific to their own conditions. While recognising most NZTA standards proposed are "reasonable" ORC is concerned that air conditioning requirements are not relevant to colder Otago, wheras bus heating standards are; with less loading pressure on buses Otago expects greater foot room per passenger; greater luggage space (particular for skis and tourist luggage in the Queenstown areas) and required acceleration (Dunedin has some very steep hills) are among concerns raised