Horowhenua's weekly community bus service to return

Horowhenua's Day Out In Town Community Bus service is making a comeback, providing low-cost travel between Levin, Waitarere, Foxton, Foxton Beach and Shannon every Friday.

Following a 12-week trial in late 2013, the bus service is to return this coming Friday 14 November and is available to use by anyone of any age.

This is thanks to New Zealand Lotteries Commission funding allowing the service to be reinstated and run for six months. Horowhenua District Council and Te Horowhenua Trust are seeking further funding to see the service extended to 12 months.

A new addition to the service will see the bus travel via Waitarere Beach, to provide beach residents with transport to the District's towns and give passengers from Levin, Foxton and Shannon the opportunity to go to the beach for the day - or the week.

Te Horowhenua Trust chief executive Joann Ransom says there is a proven need for the community bus service.

"Towards the end of the 2013 trial, all 37 passengers on one of the services were surveyed. The feedback received demonstrates the need for such a bus and the multitude of services that it provided access to. It also highlights that the bus was already near its 45 seat capacity after a few short weeks," she said.

Foxton's Warwick Marshall was one of the community bus service's regular users during its trial. He says there is certainly demand for the service and if it was there, it would be used.

"I sold my car and bought a bike to get around Foxton. But I need to go to Levin about once a week - to do this, that and the other, including going to the bank," he said.

"It was disappointing the bus service stopped. I'm lucky that I have friends who regularly drive to Levin, so I can catch a ride with them. But not everyone, particularly older people whose friends may not drive either, has that option."

Fellow Foxton resident Gordon Lowndes says even though he and his wife own a car, they would use the bus service for convenience and to save on petrol costs.

And, Alexandria d'Ardern-Trail, of Foxton Beach, says she knows of many older people who do not drive and therefore would benefit greatly from the bus service.

"If there is no public transport for them to get around, they risk becoming socially isolated, which is not good," she said.

Passengers will be charged a $2 one-way fare to supplement the funding and help strengthen a business case to Horizons Regional Council, which is responsible for public transport, to take over operating the service longer-term.

Horizons has indicated support for the service in principle, however it is unable to consider new contracts until a new regional transport plan has been adopted.

Horowhenua Mayor Brendan Duffy says the bus service offers public transport to the wider Horowhenua community and provides access to many services in town that Levin residents may take for granted.

"The Day Out in Town bus is a service for all, but people with disabilities and older people especially will benefit from it and their wellbeing and prosperity," Mayor Duffy said.

"This bus offers the wider Horowhenua community access to a multitude of services that we in Levin may take for granted, as well as opening up the wider District to Levin’s residents.

"With approximately a quarter of the Horowhenua District population aged over 65, maintaining strong connections between individuals and organisations in this sector is fundamental to the wellbeing and prosperity of our older residents."

The bus service will run every Friday, including Boxing Day and the New Year's public holiday on 2 January, to the following timetable:

9:30am Levin: Bath Street bus stop outside Te Takere

9:45am Shannon: Ballance Street bus stop

10.15am Foxton Beach: Community Centre, Seabury Avenue

10.25am Foxton: Main Street bus stop by de Molen windmill

10.40am Waitarere Beach: Outside Four Square

11.00am Levin: Bath Street bus stop outside Te Takere

2.00pm Levin: Bath Street bus stop outside Te Takere

2.15pm Shannon: Ballance Street bus stop

2.45pm Foxton Beach: Community Centre, Seabury Avenue

2.55pm Foxton: Main Street bus stop by de Molen windmill

3.10pm Waitarere Beach: Outside Four Square

3.30pm Levin: Bath Street bus stop outside Te Takere

ENDS

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