Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope said calls for change had been supported strongly and it was now time to put pressure on the Otago Regional Council to provide better bus services.
An online petition was signed by more than 580 people and comments there included observations about buses being crowded and the service not adequately meeting community needs.
Mr Pope said the trip from Dunedin along the peninsula was particularly popular after school on weekdays, but the service required improvement.
An extra bus should be brought in — both for teenaged commuters and for other people who needed the service, he said.
Such thoughts are set to be put in front of the regional council, which is receiving feedback on its 2025-35 draft regional public transport plan.
Feedback is open until May 2.
Mr Pope described the issue as a good problem to have, as it reflected successful outcomes.
In 2019, the community had a win when the council agreed to a change of route.
Mr Pope commented back then it had taken "an awful long time" to have this approved.
In a letter last month to council chairwoman Gretchen Robertson and chief executive Richard Saunders, he wrote of the community having rallied last time.
Mr Pope said the changes better met the needs of commuters.
"Since that time, our service has been pushed to its limits and many children and parents in our community face the daily challenge of securing a place on the public transport service, from the city to the Otago Peninsula," he said.
Buses were often full and young people left stranded, Mr Pope said.
"It has resulted in stress and frustration for the community as they scramble to manage their schedules around an over-subscribed transport system."
Cr Robertson replied the council’s transport team had been hearing from many people in the community about capacity issues across the network.
Buses and drivers were fully utilised during peak times, she said.
There was no budget available from the council or NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for more frequent buses or additional routes, she said.
"That said, we want to assure you that future improvements are in the pipeline," Cr Robertson said.
The peninsula bus service contract was up for renewal next year.
"This includes reviewing frequency and routes, with any potential improvements set to take effect from late 2026."
The council is receiving feedback this month both on the public transport plan and its draft annual plan.
