* More people than ever are hopping on to a bus in Auckland. Passenger growth is said to be greater than many other cities in the world.
* During the past three years, Auckland has seen 23 per cent growth in trips on buses and ferries - from 38million passenger trips in 2000 to 47 million this year. This is expected to rise to 51 million by June.
* The increased demand is mainly for peak morning and evening services.
* Ratepayers subsidise 45 per cent of Auckland bus services, compared with 60 per cent in Wellington and 95 per cent in Christchurch.
* The Auckland Regional Council says public transport contracts and services for 2003-2004 require $20.6 million from ratepayers - up $3.3 million on 2002-2003.
* Operators are looking to bigger 51-seat buses, at a cost of $290,000 each, to cope with peak demands.
What passengers are saying
* "If I had walked from the Downtown ferry terminal instead of wasting 20 minutes waiting for buses that didn't arrive, I would have got to work around 7.55am instead of 8.10am."
* "Here on the North Shore there seems to be a huge lack of buses running through different parts."
* "Nothing runs from West Auckland to most North Shore suburbs. I live in Ranui. To get to work in Browns Bay and back took five hours, and it was via the city."
* "University started four weeks ago. Surely the students would have settled into a routine by now - meaning this is how full the buses are going to be until the semester break."
* "I feel sorry for the numerous people who are waiting at the bus stop after mine who have absolutely no hope of getting on the bus from Sandringham Rd."
* "I waited for at least an hour in Sandringham from 7.30am before I was jammed in by a kindly bus driver who didn't drive past."
