Tauranga buses delayed with increase in use

More students are using Bayhopper bus services.

Peak-time bus services in parts of Tauranga are being delayed by a huge increase in student passengers since the Ministry of Education withdrew some of its school buses.

The near 70 per cent rise in students opting to catch BayHopper buses was having a "negative impact on reliability", Bay of Plenty Regional councillors heard yesterday.

Transport policy manager Garry Maloney said the increased demand was causing delays on some services, particularly the Pyes Pa and Windermere services to Mount Maunganui via the city centre, and the city to Oropi service via Sunvale and Greerton.

The extra 800 students catching Bayhopper buses every day were in addition to the council's special SchoolHopper service that was carrying nearly 3300 students a day.

It meant that nearly 4100 students a day paid to catch SchoolHopper or BayHopper buses in May and June of term two. The council ended its introductory free service in term one.

Previous estimates were that up to 4500 students from 17 schools would catch the SchoolHopper or BayHopper services. The report indicated that up to 400 students were getting to school using alternative transport methods.

Discounted fares of $1.15 per trip for students using a Smartride Card, or $1.60 cash, meant that revenue from the SchoolHopper service averaged $3800 a day in term 2.

Mr Maloney said he expected to see a more business-as-usual approach now that the student fare-paying service was fully established.

The priority would be to look at improvements in order to provide a more efficient public transport network.

"This may mean identifying and implementing route amalgamations or even the removal of some services."

A special meeting of the council's public transport subcommittee will consider changing student fares for 2016.

One option will be to make child and student fares higher on BayHopper services to encourage students to use the SchoolHopper buses.

Growth in students using BayHopper buses in term 2

April 2015: 30,335 passengers (up 11 per cent on 2014 - 10 term days)

May 2015: 42,279 passengers (up 54 per cent on 2014)

June 2015: 41,454 passengers (up 69 per cent on 2014)