Bus driver shortage deterring North Shore students from attending uni classes

Auckland’s bus driver shortage due to the Covid-19 pandemic has led to frequent bus cancellations, which has demotivated North Shore university students.

Statistics released by ‘Greater Auckland’, a non-profit advocacy group, show that 13 per cent of the buses were cancelled from the North Shore, compared to 10 per cent from central Auckland and six per cent from the East, late last year.

Vice President for AUT’s student association Alicia Lemmer who lives on the North Shore says cancellations can be a problem for students.

“A lot of the time there are quite a few cancellations as well [...] so that obviously makes people a bit frustrated.”

The cancellations have also resulted in her being late for classes and consequently has caused a lack of motivation to attend university.

“In some cases, it has made me a few minutes late to classes […] and knowing that the buses may take a bit longer has also made it a bit demotivating to come to uni.”

Senior lecturer of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland, Timothy Welch, says the reduced pool of drivers can lead to bus cancellations.

“It can make them less frequent, especially if bus drivers get sick or have other obligations…we don’t have anybody to draw from to fill that gap, so that can result in cancellations.”

Lemmer also says the cancellations have caused her to be late to her meetings as well.