Public transport

Dunedin's public bus system is diabolical and should be improved so more people use it, members of a new group say.

Dunedin police have praised the city's bus services after a month-long series of urban bus fleet inspections found the standard of their maintenance was high.

The Otago University Students' Association has set aside $25,000 to provide students with Go Cards so they can take advantage of a discounted bus fare trial next year.

A discounted tertiary student bus fare to be trialled during Orientation Week next year could cost the Otago Regional Council about $15,000 but it will not mean an increase in rates, the council says.

There has been a 4.7% increase in the number of trips taken on Dunedin's buses in the past six months.

The Otago Regional Council has always acted in accordance with the law, but a consequence of that in relation to proposed public transport changes could mean it falls on the "wrong side" of the New Zealand Transport Agency, council chief executive Graeme Martin says.

More people are using Otago's public buses, but increasing the number of passengers will continue to be a struggle, Otago Regional councillor Bryan Scott says.

Improvements to public transport in Otago will be considered in the development of a six-year regional public transport plan.

Bus passengers seem to have approved of the new Saturday services introduced in Dunedin at the end of January.