"Night Rider" Buses A Welcome Addition To Auckland's Public Transport Services

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister with Auckland Issues, Judith Tizard, has welcomed the news that Stagecoach is to begin a 'Night Rider' bus service from Friday 7 September.

"I'm delighted that Aucklanders visiting Queen Street at night will be able to get home on safe public transport after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays," says Judith Tizard.

The 'Night Rider' services will leave the Civic Theatre area from 1am, 2am and 3am and travel along 14 routes to most suburbs across Auckland.

"When Auckland Mayor Chris Fletcher and I had a late-night walkabout with police in the inner-city last weekend, I was concerned that so many young people were out after midnight with no reliable way of getting home," says Judith Tizard, who is also the MP for Auckland Central, which encompasses Auckland's inner-city area.

"We need to make the inner-city as safe for them as we can. Reliable and convenient transport is part of the solution.

"The similar night bus service in Wellington is extremely popular. Some young people have told me that it's often the highlight of their night out because the atmosphere on the bus home is so convivial.

The 'Night Rider' proposal came out of an Auckland City Council Transport and Roading Committee workshop, in consultation with the council's youth committee. The Auckland Regional Council is funding a two-year trial with assistance from Transfund.

"I'm pleased that Transfund's 'kick-start' patronage funding scheme continues to help with vital public transport solutions for the Auckland region," says Judith Tizard.

Ends

© Scoop Media