Bay of Plenty buses are gearing up for the summer enslaught of visitors and commuters by increasing their service through Tauranga.
The Bayhopper network will being in a summer services timetable from December 27 with more frequent buses and later services on some routes.
From Boxing Day, December 26, and continuing each weekend through to and including Waitangi Day, February 6, Routes 1, 33, 62, 40 and 70 will run a slightly altered timetable from its normal one on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor and chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport Sub-Committee Lyall Thurston said the summer timetable should make it easier for people to get to the Mount in particular, and get home again a bit later than they usually can.
"We're hoping for a nice fine summer, and we want to make sure people can enjoy as much of our region's great weather as possible by getting out and about and enjoying what the city has to offer," he said.
Information about the summer timetable is available from today at www.baybus.co.nz
In addition to the weekend changes, there will also be changes to Routes 1, 2 and 30 from midday on New Year's Eve (December 31) as Bayhopper buses stop at the Kawaka Street Park and Ride shuttle in Mount Maunganui. They will not travel into the Mount Maunganui Closed Vehicle Zone. Regular public holiday timetables will apply on New Year's Day.
For more information about New Year's Eve visit www.tauranga.govt.nz.
The changes
Route 1: Services will run every half hour instead of hourly
Route 33: Buses will run every half hour instead of hourly. An extra evening service will connect with Route 1, so passengers can transfer from Route 1 to Route 33.
Route 62: Buses will run every half hour instead of hourly. An extra evening service will connect with Route 1, so passengers can transfer from Route 1 to Route 62.
Route 40: An extra evening service will connect with Route 1, so passengers can transfer from Route 1 to Route 40.
Route 70: An extra evening service will connect with Route 1, so passengers can transfer from Route 1 to Route 70.
Normal fares and concessions will operate. Weekday services will operate as normal.