Bus riders satisfied by services in Tauranga, Rotorua

Tuesday 15 August 2006

More people are catching the bus than ever before in the Bay of Plenty. And most of them are well satisfied with the service, according to a survey by the regional council.

Environment Bay of Plenty, which manages passenger transport services in the region, commissioned a telephone survey of nearly 900 people in Rotorua and Tauranga recently. The two cities host major bus networks, called Cityride (Rotorua) and Bay Hopper (Tauranga).

Nearly all (91%) of the bus users surveyed described the overall bus service as either good or excellent. Most of them felt safe and personally secure riding on the buses, though fewer did so in Tauranga (63% rated it excellent) than Rotorua (72%).

“We are very pleased that people are both using and enjoying the services we provide to them,” says Environment Bay of Plenty’s transport committee chairman Athole Herbert.

The survey found most people used the buses either once or twice a week. The Tauranga people surveyed were more likely to catch the bus five times a week (15%) than Rotorua people (10%).

The most common reason for travelling by bus was to go shopping, though many people (23%) also used it to get to and from work.

Almost half who used the buses did not have access to private transport at the time. Just over a quarter used public transport because it was cheaper than going by car or they considered it value for money.

The main reasons people chose their car over the bus were convenience, flexibility and independence.

Environment Bay of Plenty has increased its level of passenger transport service in the region considerably over the past five years. Rotorua now has a half-hourly city service while Tauranga’s service continues to increase in frequency and coverage. Tauranga City Council also plans to put money into Tauranga’s service to boost it further. Mr Athole says he welcomes the proposed partnership and collaboration with Tauranga City Council. “It will improve the service further,” he adds.

ENDS

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