In a world struggling to become more green Wellington City Council has decided to replace the city's fleet of electric trolley buses with diesel-electric buses in a massive step backwards.
Wellington's electric trolley bus fleet and extensive network of overhead power lines have been a part of the city's character since the 1920's. The fleet is the only trolley bus network in Oceania. The fleet was only recently upgraded with the latest buses arriving in 2009. The fleet is quiet, promotes the use of public transport and reduces carbon emissions every day with power drawn from a national grid that is 70% generated from renewable resources. A return to fossil fuel transport is a step backwards that flies in the face of global attempts to become more green (diesel-electric hybrids and their 'almost green' credentials have yet to be confirmed as less polluting and more suitable than the current 100% electric buses - the decision to adopt the new, intermediate format is based on paper projections alone. As leading industrialists such as Tesla and Toyota make their green technology available to all the world of green transport is changing rapidly. 'Intermediate' and 'hybrid' technology may quickly prove to be a mistaken investment.)
Please sign this petition demanding that the Council reverse their decision and invest in the trolley buses rather than make the short-sighted transition to partly fossil-fuel driven public transport (this will involve a costly upgrade of the electrical network including overhead lines and power substations - but should been as an investment in public health, environmental protection, carbon emission reduction, the unique character of the city, and also so as not to waste the money already spent on so recently having upgraded the fleet). To reverse their decision would be a triumph of long-range planning over short-term expediency
