AT Local EV rideshare under fire
Auckland Transport (AT) launched a ride-sharing system in the Devonport area this year to reduce congestion for those travelling to and from the three ferry wharfs in the area.
This 12-month trial has received an estimated cost of $1.3 million to run. Stuff reports that the trial needs to reach about 200 trips a day over the course of the year to receive 22% of its cost. On the busiest day, the service reached 163 rides.
AT Local has a target of 1200 to 1400 passengers per week, and its best week saw the numbers reach 759 rides, just over half of its target.
Mike Sheehy, a member of the Takapuna-Devonport Local Board, told Stuff the trial was a failure.
“It is financially irresponsible for AT to continue this trial,” says Sheehy. He adds the trial is taxpayer funded.
“A loss is a loss whichever way you look at it,” he says.
AT bought three electric vehicles for the trial and paid $103,000 to develop and test the mobile phone app.
“AT made a conscious decision to use EV’s for this trial, so in addition to reducing congestion by taking vehicles off the road, there’s an additional environmental benefit because the vehicles are eco-friendly,” says AT Metro customer experience manager Peter Paton.
An AT spokesman says the trial is expected to grow nearer winter.
“This is a test and learn trial and we are making changes based on public feedback – for instance, we have changed the booking procedure slightly after requests from our customers,” he told Stuff.
AT Local van is an LDV EV80
It costs $3 one way for the EV to pick you up and drop you off within the zone.
Paton says AT does not have plans to expand the rideshare zone, but that can change if there is demand for service beyond the present zone.
More than 7500 trips have been completed over the 19 weeks so far. About 92% of trips are to and from the Devonport ferry terminal, which is known for its congestion and lack of parking.
AT has also come under fire for funding this trial for “one of the wealthiest suburbs in Auckland,” Stuff
reports.
It costs $4.90 with an AT HOP card to travel via ferry from Bayswater, Stanley Bay and Devonport wharfs to the city.
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Completely irresponsible for AT to waste so much money on this program. And to play the “Eco friendly” card is taking cheating to a whole new level. AT were not the slightest bit interested in “Eco friendly” when I was taking an Uber rider down Queen Street in my Nissan Leaf, where I had to make a left turn into Wyndham St. I was in the bus lane for a few extra mtrs than the 50mtrs they deem enough. It cost me $150 for those few seconds and it took my loathing of AT to new levels. I despise the company and everything they do. Corporate bullies. Money wasters. Treating motorists like 2nd class citizens.