Increasing number of people catching a bus in greater Christchurch

In the first three months of the current financial year there have been about 3.5 million passenger trips, this is a 1.7 per cent increase compared to the same time last year.

The figures (PDF file, 4.5MB), which were released publicly today, also show overall increases across the frequent lines, connector services, local routes, and school buses in September compared to last September.

Environment Canterbury senior manager public transport Stewart Gibbon said the results suggested that patronage was starting to bounce back after a few years of lower numbers.

“As the city’s road works start to ease we’re seeing improved network reliability which is a key factor in ensuring our customers can rely on our services.”

“We’ve also seen more people moving into the central city, or coming in to visit new places, which when coupled with fewer parking sites prompts people to look at different ways of travelling, be that by bus, car-pooling, walking or biking,” he said.

Gibbon said it was great to see more central city workers trying the bus as an option as they moved into town.

“We still have a way to go before we reach pre-earthquake patronage levels, but as more workers move into town, roadworks continue to ease and the delivery of a number of key public transport focused infrastructure projects are completed, the numbers suggest that we are starting to head in the right direction.”

By the numbers:

  • 1,180,902 bus trips were taken in greater Christchurch in September
  • 4.8 per cent increase in September, compared to September last year
  • 57.2 per cent of September trips were on the frequent lines
  • 11.1 per cent growth on the Orange Line in September, compared to last year
  • Calendar year-to-date growth of 0.2 per cent
  • Financial year-to-date growth of 1.7 per cent

Find out more about public transport services and the Greater Christchurch Public Transport Joint Committee.