Explore the new Hawke's Bay public bus network with a week's worth of free rides. Photo: Supplied/LDR
Hawke's Bay Regional Council is offering free bus rides for passengers from 25-31 January to travel the new network.
For the first time, there will be public transport links to Hawke's Bay Airport and the Regional Sports Park, and more connections to Hawke's Bay Hospital and Eastern Institute of Technology.
The new network follows the scrapping of the council's MyWay trial, which cost 159 percent more to operate than its original bus routes.
The MyWay trial was launched with three vans in Hastings in 2022, replacing three existing bus routes. The service ends on 23 January.
A HBRC spokesperson said the new network represented the most significant public transport changes in almost two decades, spanning Napier, Hastings and Havelock North.
Hawke's Bay Regional transport committee chair Neil Kirton said the week of free travel was the perfect opportunity for people to experience the upgrade firsthand.
"We want everyone to see how much easier life can be with a more direct, better-connected service, which is why we're making it completely free to ride for the first seven days," Councillor Kirton said.
"It's the perfect opportunity to ditch the car for your commute, take the family out for an adventure or simply explore the new routes. We've built this network to move our community forward and there's no better time to jump on board."
Regional council transport manager Russell Turnbull said passengers would notice the difference immediately.
"We've moved away from complex loops to easier-to-understand, more direct routes, supported by nearly 100 additional bus stops," Turnbull said.
"By making routes bi-directional, we are doubling the convenience for our passengers and drastically reducing wait times. This expansion means that reliable bus services are now within a short 400-metre walk of almost 100,000 residents across the region."
Not everyone is happy about the changes
Hastings District Council sent out letters to 588 Hastings residents, informing them about 180 new bus stops in the city.
Flaxmere resident Blair Kyle said he received his letter on 17 November, stating the council planned to install a bus stop outside his property.
"We have a bus stop 3-4 doors up the road and another one just around the corner on Wilson Rd," Kyle said. "It's bizarre and unnecessary."
At the Hastings District Council meeting on 11 December, councillors agreed to approve the installation of bus stops where there had been no objections, and to continue working with residents and businesses where there had been objections.
While HBRC is responsible for public transport, it is up to HDC to install bus stop signs and pavement markings.
Key bus route changes
Napier - Hastings
These routes are streamlined, with Route 1 linking Napier, Hastings and now Havelock North, and Route 11 serving Napier to Hastings, via Clive and Whakatu.
Hastings
The MyWay on-demand service ends on 23 January, replaced by fixed GoBay routes. It will be largely replaced by Route 8 Hastings Circular, which covers Camberley, Frimley, Mahora, the CBD and Raureka, and services the edges of Mayfair, Parkvale and Akina.
Routes 1, 6 Flaxmere-Akina and 7 Flaxmere-Karamu will also provide coverage through Hastings that current MyWay users can access.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
