XN000022-1981-05-31 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1981

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN BUS REV I EW

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THE PUBLIC WILL BE CONSULTED WIDELY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUS SERVICES DURING THE CURRENT REVIEW OF THE BUS OPERATIONS OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS AND KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANIES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS WOULD BE DONE IN SEVERAL WAYS I

* THE INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORT

ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE REV | EV-

* SEEKING THE VIEWS OF RESIDENTS ON THEIR

LOCAL BUS SERVICES-

* INVITING COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC

ON THE MATTERS COVERED BY THE REVIEW,

ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE REVIEW IS TO RE-EXAMINE THE EXISTING NETWORK OF BUS SERVICES AND THE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING UNDER-UTILISED SERVICES AND OPTIMISING EFFICIENCY.

PARTICULAR AREAS WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED IN DETAIL INCLUDE:

* THE BUS NETWORK AS A WHOLE-

* THE REDEPLOYMENT OF BUSES FROM

*

UNDER-UTILISED ROUTES TO OVERCROWDED

ROUTES-

CONVERSION OF SERVICES FROM SINGLE DECKER TO DOUBLE DECKER BUSES-

* WITHDRAWING LIGHTLY USED ROUTES AND

REPLACING THEM WITH MAXICAB SERVICES-

* REDUCTIONS IN SERVICE DURING OFF-PEAK

PERIODS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID COPIES OF A DRAFT ROUTE DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMME HAD BEEN CIRCULATED TO CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS AND DISTRICT OFFICERS AND THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ON THESE PROPOSALS, AS WELL AS ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE REVIEW, WOULD BE SOUGHT THROUGH DISTRICT BOARDS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OTHER SIMILAR CHANNELS.

THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PRODUCED ANNUALLY BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOR MANY YEARS BUT WAS FORMALISED UNDER THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TWO BUS COMPANIES IN FEBRUARY 1980.

+IN PROVIDING FOR THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID, MANY VARIABLES HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT" IN DEVICING THE PROGRAMME SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ESTATES AND NEW TOWNS, OTHER TRANSPORT MODES AND NEW ROADS AND TUNNELS.

+WICE OF