Bigger bus could remedy Te Puke service problem

Tina Hemsley has witnessed three occasions when people were left behind after the bus became too full. Photo/George Novak.

A bigger bus could be introduced on to the express service to Te Puke after a student was spurred into action by seeing people being left behind in Tauranga.

Tina Hemsley had only been a regular user of the service for just over 2 weeks, but in that time she witnessed three occasions when people were left behind after the bus became too full.

''That would be fine if the next bus was no more than 30 minutes away, however the next bus was a whole hour and a half.''

Hemsley, 21, said the first time she noticed the problem, two people were left behind. This was followed by three or four college students early last week and then one person on Tuesday this week.

She wrote to the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend after being told by Baybus that a new improved timetable was being introduced in December.

''To me, that is a very, very long time.''

Hemsley said she said felt sorry for the people being left behind at 4.10pm - knowing the next bus was not until 5.40pm.

''What happened if they had to be somewhere. If I was a parent and my kids were being left behind, I would not be happy.''

She said Baybus was making efforts to improve bus services but her experience was it was not offering an awesome service or matching growth in Tauranga and Te Puke.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council transport policy manager Garry Maloney said the capacity of the Te Puke express service was raised as an issue with the bus contractor a few months ago following a complaint, but he was told it was not a problem.

The second complaint last week meant the council would be raising the matter again with the contractor and giving them the opportunity to swap the 4.10pm bus for a larger bus. An extra peak time service to Te Puke would be introduced in December.

Maloney said the contractor had not raised people being left behind in Tauranga as an issue.

Hemsley said she was happy with the suggested solution. ''I think that would do the trick. No more than five people are being left behind.''

Most common complaints about Tauranga's BayHopper services
- Buses not stopping.
- Buses arriving late or not running.
- Driver behaviour.
- Inconsiderate or poor driving.
Source: BOP Regional Council public transport committee