New bus fares for Tauranga buses

Bayhopper and Cityride passengers are reminded that fares are set to rise from Monday.

The rise, of around five per cent to each fare, is intended to increase the proportion of the service cost paid for by passengers.

Schoolhopper fares are not affected by the increase.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Transport Policy Manager Garry Maloney said depending on the trip passengers may find their fare has increased slightly more or slightly less than the five percent amount.

"We've had to allow for the fact that a strict five percent rise would not have worked for passengers paying for their fare on the bus with cash, so where appropriate the cash fare has been rounded to the nearest 10 cents."

The five per cent increase will also be applied to passengers using Smartride cards.

Mr Maloney said on average more than 7850 passengers use the Bayhopper and Cityride buses each day, which are funded through a mix of funding from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, NZ Transport Agency and bus fares by users.

"This means that those using the service are paying about one third of the cost of what their ticket pays for."

For more information about the Baybus network, please visit www.baybus.co.nz or call 0800 422 928.