Bus usage up 44 per cent

Data for the first week of the new eBus service shows there were 15,500 journeys taken across Nelson Tasman - an increase of 44 per cent from the previous week under the old NBus service. There was an increase in patronage across the entire week, with a 195 per cent increase in weekend journeys. The two routes extending into Motueka and Wakefield had a successful start, with 1,200 journeys recorded. “It is a service that both communities have been asking for and the numbers are a great start to this service becoming a genuine option for residents in these townships,” says Tasman mayor Tim King. The new eBus website has had 40,600 page views in the first week, with the routes and timetables pages being the most viewed. Feedback can be submitted through shape.govt.nz/ebus or ebus@ncc.govt.nz