PRAMS ON BUSES

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 11

PRAMS ON BUSES

Discussion By Union Soon The carriage of prams on Christchurch buses would be discussed at the next meeting of the Canterbury Tramway Workers’ Union on August 14, said its secretary (Mr L. C. J. Southon) yesterday. He was commenting on a move by some bus drivers to have prams banned from Christchurch buses, because the drivers considered them hazardous. “The traffic in Christchurch streets has increased to such an extent that you are practically driving in peak traffic throughout the whole day,” said Mr Southon. “There seems to be very little effort on the part of the traffic authorities in the city to do anything about the traffic problems.”

Mr Southon said the number of prams or pushchairs carried at the same time by a bus in Christchurch was restricted to four. Bus drivers would not carry prams before 9 a.m. or between 4.30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Drivers were sometimes irritated when asked to collect prams some distance from their buses for loading. “This is not because they don’t want to,” said Mr Southon, “but because their buses are on a tight schedule and they don’t have time.” The union would be very reluctant to deprive Christchurch mothers of their right to bring their babies’ pushchairs or prams into the city. “Such a step would not be taken lightly,” he said. “It would have to be proved to be necessary for public safety.”