Media Release

21 January 2012

Record breaking year for public transport

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has reported a record breaking number of public transport trips on the goBay network during 2012.

Passenger trips increased almost 18% last year, with 726,373 trips on the goBay public transport network between January and December, an average of over 60,000 trips per month.

Public transport improvements in 2012 included:

- Services on the Route 12 between Napier and Hastings increased to every 15 minutes in peak-times and every 30 minutes in off-peak times

- Sunday services introduced between Napier and Hastings

- Public Holiday services introduced

- Route 15 (Hopper) made permanent

- Route 17 extended to run via Summerset Retirement Village, Ada Street, Hastings

- Express services between Havelock North/Hastings/Napier rebranded

- Bike park/shelter installed in Havelock North Village

- Bike racks installed on most of the goBay fleet

- Two new bus shelters installed on Gloucester Street, Taradale

- Several new on-street timetable units installed

- QR code introduced to timetable booklets and on-street posters

- Mobile timetable access for smart phones introduced

A new goBay initiative for 2013 is an information session for seniors who may not have travelled by bus for some time, but would like to know how public transport could help them to maintain their independence. The session is being organised jointly by HBRC and Age Concern Hastings. Further details are available from Age Concern on 870 9060.
ends

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