Internet is just the ticket for Auckland commuters

By SCOTT MacLEOD

The country's biggest public transport system went online yesterday, enabling Aucklanders to plan trips on buses, ferries and trains with a few clicks of a computer mouse.

The Auckland Regional Council is billing its Rideline internet site as the biggest improvement in public transport information since the paper timetable.

Between 7 am and 2 pm yesterday, the site site recorded 265 hits, about 10 per cent of the usual rate of telephone inquiries during those hours.

The website gives step-by-step details on how to get from A to B on public transport, even taking into account walking times from home to the nearest bus-stop.

Commuters may eventually be able to reach the site by cellphone, so they can work out how to get home from shops and other centres.

The ARC believes thousands of people are likely to use the service each day.

The council's public transport phone service, also called Rideline, answers 1.2 million calls a year from an estimated 84,000 people wanting details of routes and timetables.

ARC transport committee chairman Les Paterson says one advantage of the website is that it is open all day every day, whereas the phone service operated only from 7 am to 8 pm six days a week, and from 8 am to 6.30 pm on Sundays.

People logging onto the new site are asked to enter their address, a nearby landmark or road intersection, and the destination.

Then a click of the mouse reveals the five best travel options.

Mr Paterson says the site is expected to be especially popular with students, office workers, temporary workers and tourists.

The council employed four people full-time for eight months to feed information into a database for the internet service.

They worked out 500 routes, 500 "timing points," 2000 landmarks, and 5000 bus, train and ferry stops.

Rideline uses Australian software called IPTIS, which stands for Integrated Public Transport Information System.

It was first used in Brisbane and Perth.

Transfund NZ has pledged $166,000 towards the website as a boost for public transport.

Rideline Auckland bus information

Herald Online feature: Getting Auckland moving

Herald Online traffic reports