More and more commuters are leaving their cars at home each day and joining the ‘‘busset'', leaving public transport operators smiling at their new-found popularity.
While the rush for the bus has not reached the crush proportions now being experienced in Christchurch where there have been media reports of passengers being crammed in stairways and against bus doors, Timaru patronage is steadily climbing, with April figures up 21 per cent on the previous year.
There had been times when buses had been at capacity, operators said.
And it is little wonder.
How far will $1.15 go? It will not buy a litre of milk. You would not get a block of cheese for it either. You could park your car for an hour or so maybe, or buy a small chocolate bar on special. Some might say they use $1.15 worth of petrol just starting the car and warming it up before heading off to work in the morning.
However, more and more Timaru people are finding $1.15 can take them round the block - many times.
A $1.15 swipe on a Metrocard on any one of Timaru's Metro buses allows passengers to ride throughout the city as often they wish over a four-hour period.
In addition, for that $1.15 Metrocard fare, passengers will soon have the luxury of a bus host service - volunteers who can help with information, assist the elderly, provide directions and generally make the commuter's journey more pleasant, Environment Canterbury (Ecan) transport officer Tony Henderson says.
Mr Henderson said the fare structure in Timaru - which had been spared price increases this year, unlike Christchurch - gave the region one of the most economic public transport systems in the country.
‘‘One swipe of a Metrocard, docking $1.15 from it, enables a commuter to go where they want as often as they want for four hours.
‘‘A whole day of riding would cost just $2.30.''
He said the fuel price shock delivered to motorists during the past few months had served to remind people just what value for money the bus service offered.
‘‘We are noticing quite a significant rise in patronage over a 12-month period. For example, there was a 21 per cent rise in bus use this April compared with April last year,'' Mr Henderson said.
‘‘Overall, I would say patronage had lifted eight to nine per cent in a year on average.''
At peak times some buses had been at capacity, he said.
That was good news for everyone when it came to reviewing fares, routes and stops,because the more people used the buses, the more routes and stops that could be included, he said.
‘‘Times and routes were reviewed annually and if the demand was there, options would be looked at.
‘‘Our objective is to encourage people to use public transport because it is better for the environment. We are happy to provide extra services so long as it's viable,'' Mr Henderson said.
The bus host service, which would be staffed by volunteers who would ride on buses during off-peak hours, was originally announced last year. However, the implementation of it had been delayed pending the details of a new national initiative promoted by Tauranga MP Winston Peters that would allow free use of the public transport system during the middle of the day.
‘‘This new initiative, known as Super Goldcard, might change the way Ecan would use its volunteers. We are waiting to see how bus hosting fits in with that when it is introduced later this year,'' Mr Henderson said.
In the meantime, volunteers were being sought for the hosting service and Mr Henderson said interested people could contact him at his office on (03) 688-9069 to express interest in being part of the scheme.
Ecan, which operates Timaru's Metro bus service, considered Timaru was a special case when it came to the most recent round of fare reviews. There will be no increase in fares in Timaru, unlike Christchurch where fares will increase by 10 per cent to 15 per cent from July 7, 2008, to keep pace with fuel cost increases.
Ecan public transport chair Carole Evans told The Courier it was important to nurture the bus service in Timaru and increase patronage.
‘‘And on top of that Timaru had a fare increase in February 2006 where Christchurch fares had not risen in three years.
‘‘We felt we needed to maintain the incentive for Timaru people to use the buses and fare increases do not do that.
‘‘We are pleased with the increase of patronage in Timaru and we want to see it continue to grow,'' she said.
‘‘We have the best public transport service in New Zealand and with fuel prices spiralling, more people are leaving their cars behind for daily travel.''
The cost of Metro services is met by a combination of regional council rates, central government subsidies and fares.
Ecan aims to have the income from fares covering between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of the total cost of the service.
