Council looks to rejuvenate bus use

Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Transport policy manager Garry Maloney said the council would now look at different ways to reward those regular commuters. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council will look at other ways to encourage Rotorua residents to use the city's buses, after a poor turnout on Saturday when free buses were offered.

On Saturday, the day of the general election, the council offered the public free rides on the CityRide bus, giving people the opportunity to travel to voting booths.

The free fares were offered to encourage people to use the bus on a day when it was likely everyone had a reason to get out and about.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Transport policy manager Garry Maloney said the aim of the day was to remove the barriers and allow people to take the bus free, in the hope that it would encourage them to use it more often.

However, he said the feedback from operators was mixed.

"I don't know exact figures but about 2900 passengers used the bus on that day," he said.

That number was similar to the number of passengers the service would get on any given weekday, he said.

"From the feedback we've had from operators, it sounds like most of the passengers were teenagers, some of them getting up to mischief."

Mr Maloney said he was disappointed the free fares didn't attract many of those who were voting or those they were trying to attract.

He said the council would now look at different ways to reward those regular commuters who use the service a few times a week, and attract new commuters.

The feedback was surprising but has given the council "food for thought", he said.