Cityride improvements launching later this month

6 July 2015

It will soon be easier to catch the bus in the Rotorua CBD with improvements to the Cityride network launching on Monday 20 July.

From that date buses will travel on an inner city loop, with stops in Arawa, Amohia and Fenton Streets and at the Rotorua Central mall. Buses will no longer use the current stops at Pukuatua Street.

In addition, Route 2 is being split into two routes, providing easier options for passengers travelling to and from the CBD to Wairakei Institute of Technology, while minor changes are being made to other routes.

Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor Lyall Thurston said the changes to where the buses stop in the central city mean people should find it easier to catch a bus to get to where they need to go.

“It means that for most routes, people now have four options for where they can get on or off the bus in the inner city,” he said. “This, combined with the fully accessible fleet that Cityride uses, makes the trip to town a lot easier for more people.”

People may also start to notice a change to the look of some of the Cityride timetables and signs.

“We’ve taken the opportunity to give the timetables and signs a bit of a refresh and we hope we’ve made them easier for people to use,” he said. “But as always, feedback is welcome and we’ll be taking this on board to improve the timetable information as they develop.”

Rotorua Lakes Council’s Inner City Revitalisation Portfolio lead, Councillor Karen Hunt, said the changes supported the work underway to revitalise the inner city as part of the Rotorua 2030 vision.

“Our local residents and our inner city business community will be much better served by more bus stops around the inner city.

“It was a suggestion we heard many times from locals visiting our Ideas Store in Tutanekai Street late last year, so we’re pleased that the regional council has embraced the idea and is making it happen.”

Passengers are encouraged to pick up a new timetable before the service starts. The timetables include an updated fare structure which will operate from Monday August 3.

To find out more about the changes, ask your driver for an updated bus timetable, visit www.baybus.co.nz or call 0800 4 BAY BUS (0800 422 928).

Key information

• Route and timetable improvements on the Cityride network will be launched on Monday 20 July
• All buses will travel along a central city loop which includes Fenton, Arawa and Amohia streets and Rotorua Central mall.
• Route 1 (Ngongotahā): to operate via Rotorua Hospital instead of Ranolf Street
• Route 2 (Polytech): To be split into two separate half hourly services, one operating to the Polytechnic via Fenton Street and one operating via Ranolf Street
• Route 6 (Koutu): to include an additional one-way loop serving Kawaha Point
• Route 9 (Springfield): to operate as a large one-way loop by omitting the current end of route loop via Jackson Street and Nikau Street and continuing along Otonga Road and Old Taupō Road to rejoin the existing route north of Hillcrest Avenue
• Route 10 (Airport): to operate along Vaughn Road instead of Te Ngae Road on the trip out to the Airport

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