Metrobus says cultural shift needed to get Newfoundlanders on public transit

The company that oversees public transit in St. John's says the new gas tax and other economic factors may drive some people to hop on the bus instead of driving, but says cultural factors play a bigger role in most people's preference to use their own vehicles.

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Metrobus General Manager Judy Powell says the company hasn't noticed a spike in ridership yet, but has in the past seen increased business during times of economic uncertainty.

She said such times are a good opportunity for people to consider the bus, but realistically most people in the province still prefer the autonomy of having their own vehicles.

"It's about changing people's routines, in markets our size," she said. "Congestion is not a real big problem here, and parking is, for the most part, available. So it takes a lot for people to change their travel routines."

During Wednesday's broadcast of On the Go, Powell said many of the reasons people often cite for not using Metrobus are difficult to avoid, and that the company has to find a delicate balance between all of the variables that come with running public transit in Canada's oldest city.

"Planning is a challenge," she said. "Everybody wants a bus stop at their door but when they get on everybody also wants a direct route, so it's that balance we have to make."

Car obsessed culture

With a budget of $18 million per year, $10 million of which comes from St. John's taxpayers, Powell would like to see more people taking advantage of a service they help pay for.

However, for that to happen she says people have to get used to the idea of walking a few blocks to a bus stop and planning their lives around scheduled instead of relying on the instant convenience of a car.

"People don't want to walk, it's something we need to change as a society," she said.

"You can just go to the malls some days and just see people circle in the first lane until a car comes out, because people don't want to walk."

"Meanwhile in Europe, public transit is the way to go, and people walk and bike and ride the bus. It's a cultural thing — and something we have to change as a society."