Free bus travel for Te Ngaru The Tide launch

Horizons Regional Council and Whanganui District Council are offering free bus travel for the week to celebrate the launch of The Tide (210) bus route on Saturday, 18 February.
 

During the free week, Saturday 18 February to Saturday 25 February, people can jump on any bus on the Whanganui urban network for free, regardless of whether they have a Bee Card.
 
Whanganui District Council’s representative on Horizons Regional Council’s passenger transport committee, Anthonie Tonnon, says there’s been a real buzz in the community about the new Te Ngaru The Tide bus route that the two councils have worked together on.
 
“It’s been great to chat to people about the new route and hear how they might use it - whether it’s getting to the markets on Saturdays, staying in town later on Fridays,  a new means of independence for their teenagers, or a way to connect to other parts of town.  People have loved the video, and I’ve also had people of all ages interested in real time tracking and the new Transit app. 
 
“The free week of bus travel will help people to try this frequent service that connects key locations between Castlecliff, the city and Aramoho such as the hospital, upper Victoria Ave shops and Gonville. As it’s a first step, some people won’t live exactly on the route, but may find it easy to connect using another bus, their bike, or a scooter to cross the bridge. The free week is also a great time to get a Bee Card set up.”
 
Horizons’ passenger transport committee chair, Councillor Sam Ferguson, says the community has called for better public transport in Whanganui and Te Ngaru The Tide is the first step.
 
“Positive uptake of this service will inform future public transport options in Whanganui, so we encourage people to catch the Tide – ekea te Ngaru,” says Cr Ferguson.
 
“This new route is also the first to have our new Connect branding on it, which is the new brand for public transport in the region. The buses should be easy to spot with the new colourful bus wrap.
 
“Horizons will also be giving away free Bee Cards at the Saturday river markets on 18 February, to support the launch of this service and make it easier for people to begin using public transport in Whanganui.
 
“Having a Bee Card means you don’t need to line up to pay the bus driver in cash and you also get a discount on your journey.
 
“When you hop on the bus with a Bee Card it’s a simple matter of holding it over the card reader at the front of the bus to tag on, and then doing the same before you disembark so you’re charged the correct amount for your journey.”
 
The public are invited to a blessing for the service at 8am on Saturday, 18 February from the historic bus shelter opposite 236 Somme Parade in Aramoho, where they can take the first service that departs at 9am.
 
The Tide will run every 20 minutes, Monday to Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 9am-3pm and will have an hourly service on Friday nights between 7pm-11pm. For more information click here.
 
To purchase a Bee Card or load credit online, click here. You can also do this on the bus or by visiting Horizons Regional Council.