The regional council has put plans to change the region's bus network on hold in response to public feedback.
In a meeting this morning, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's public transport committee agreed to extend the current Bayhopper and Schoolhopper contracts for six months.
The council would use the time to refine the proposed network to reflect public feedback, committee chairman Lyall Thurston said.
He said the council would also work directly with impacted to find solutions.
"We expect this may involve some school-led initiatives."
The council had an "unprecedented" public response to the proposed changes, receiving more than 1,400 individual pieces of feedback.
"This whole process is about finding a community-led solution; we've been listening and will continue to listen to what the public has to say," Cr Thurston said.
Of the feedback received, 61 per cent related to the Bayhopper network, operating hours and bus features. The other 39 per cent commented specifically on school buses.
People concerned about the proposed reduction in school bus services for Aquinas College, Bethlehem College and Tauranga Intermediate provided most of the school responses.
There was support for faster journeys, more direct services and a higher frequency of buses.
Regional Council staff would continue to work closely with their partners at New Zealand Transport Agency, Ministry of Education, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council on improving the network.
Part of that was looking at piloting the introduction of electric buses.
Following meetings with schools and stakeholder groups, further recommendations will be presented to the full council in September.