Go GO BUSES!

Ahh, no longer shall I have to endure walking 40 minutes in the windy, wet weather to get to my boyfriends house. Now there's an alternative, the long awaited Sunday bus service. The idea was proposed some time ago and has since been in the making. A little while ago people from Environment Waikato went on the buses and gave surveys out to people. I remember taking this particular survey on one bus trip home a little while ago. The survey was to help Go Buses determine how necessary Sunday buses were. Another survey was done before that which was given out to everyone and outlined the long term plans for the bus system.

Obviously the Sunday buses had positive feedback because on Sunday September 28th, a free bus day celebrated dramatic changes in the bus timetable. Key routes will be running on Sunday which includes Pukete, Silverdale, Dinsdale, Flagstaff, Glenview, Nawton, Fairfield, University, Rototuna, Hamilton East Uni, Te Rapa and the Orbiter. The Orbiter goes to 10pm on weekdays and til 8pm on the weekend. That's a very big increase in operating hours that have been well received by the public. Being a regular bus-goer myself, I always hear other people talking about how great it is that the buses go on Sunday. People also use them a fair bit on Sunday. I haven't gotten on one that's been empty on a Sunday yet. The buses also now run on public holidays which is totally blissful.

Other changes to the bus system includes new advantages for SuperGold cardholders. The SuperGold card is available to all eligible New Zealander's aged 65 years and over and those under this age who receive the New Zealand Superannuation or the Veterans Pension. From 1st October 2008, SuperGold cardholders are entitled to free fares during off-peak travelling hours. This applies to buses on all Hamilton city routes and bus routes to Cambridge, Huntly (21, 41, 44), Taupo, Mangakino to Tokoroa, Mangakino to Taupo, Paeroa (22) and Raglan (23). Off-peak times are 9am-3pm and 6.30pm to the end of the service on weekdays, and any time on weekends or public holidays. I think this is a really good idea for senior citizens since most of them are on the pension and that doesn't provide a lot of money.

I think the operation of buses on Sunday will benefit our city. For starters, when people without a licence want to go somewhere, they don't have to get rides from others, they can just hop on the bus. Fewer cars on the roads means less car exhaust being released into the air. You might not think it makes a difference but every little bit helps. The extension of the Orbiter hours is also beneficial because the route goes to all four corners of the city, almost covering every suburb.