Bee card bus tickets creating a buzz
Cheaper fares, price structure proposed
fees in August.
Regional Transport Committee chairman new ticketing system, and the Councillor Martin Williams said the potential for significant fare “big reduction in fares” would benefit all. drops, have been welcomed by “We know more people use public Hawke’s Bay bus users. transport when fares are cheaper, so we The proposed Regional Integrated hope the new Bee Card system and Ticketing System (RITS) would mean simpler, flat-fare structure will herald the Hawke’s Bay bus users could use the beginning of a step change in public same fare card in nine regional councils transport use in the region. nationally. “The hope is that options for more
The system would also sit alongside a diverse, on-demand services trial of a simplified fare structure to complementing the existing core bus promote bus patronage. routes will become available following
The flat-fee trial would price one-zone this review, and with council support in trips at $1 and twozone future.”
"I use my goBay bus fares at $2 Bus use was when using a new about 5 per cent of
card at the moment,
“Bee Card”. Fares the usual patronage fall 65 per cent in in Hawke’s
but I’d be more than
some cases. Bay during alert Frequent bus level 4, increasing
interested in the new
user Janet Gurran to 15 per cent in said the new system alert level 3.
proposed card." would be GoBay buses recorded welcomed by all. just
“I use my goBay 11.1 per cent of bus card at the their usual patronage moment, but I’d be in level 3. more than interested in the new proposed Under alert level 2, an estimated card,” she said. patronage of 30 per cent is expected for
“I already have a gold card, which goBay buses, with the return of schools, means some journeys are free for me. But among other factors. if it means others can go cheaper, then Williams said passengers will be told that would suit everyone.” how to make the switch when a definite
Gurran, who got back on the bus for date is confirmed for the new system, the first time since lockdown this week, which forms part of the Regional Transport said it had taken her 40 minutes walk Study. each way to the supermarket, but with a The Bee Card will also give HBRC data decline in Covid-19 in the region she was on passenger use, hot spots along the happy to let it take her halfway home. routes and fare collection, which will help
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to with network planning. agreed to implement the tag-on, tag-off The trial depends on the Transport Bee Card system and begin the trial of flat Agency agreeing to fund some of the cost.
A