Busit, the Waikato Regional Council’s bus operation, has responded to complaints of inadequate publicity on timetable changes. The only publicity of the changes prior to Easter appeared to have been a download link on a secondary page on their website to a PDF format timetable. Busit this week arranged a large advertisement in the Raglan Chronicle newspaper. Bus champion John Lawson said, “They still haven’t explained why the media release didn’t mention the 11.20, nor why they’re advertising after the change, rather than before. It sounds as though passengers are still turning up for the retimed buses. ”
Andrew Wilson, their Manager for Public Transport Operations said, “Yes it would have been better to have changed the bus stop timetables on Thursday prior to the long weekend as opposed to yesterday. We regret any confusion and stress this has caused.
On the whole implementation of changes for the three routes that transitioned over to new contracts on the 18th has gone well. The majority of feedback we have received so far has been positive.
However it still is early days. There are definitely learnings we will take from this and will apply to future changes.”
Comments on the Raglan Noticeboard tell a different story, e.g.: “Can someone please clear up the new bus timetable to Hamilton for me…it seems the 11:20 bus has disappeared. I have a medical appointment at 14:00 and it appears the only bus I can get is at 09:30…?!” And visitor posts on Busit’s own FB have not been answered.
Mr Wilson added, “In terms of publicity it may be useful to note that we undertook the following and have some further actions to come:
· Posters on buses and bus shelters in Hamilton and Raglan.
· Staff have been informing passengers at the Transport Centre for some time
New timetable information has been available online (busit.co.nz) since April 6.
Information distributed on Facebook
Info given to i-site and key locations in Raglan
Press release and coverage in Raglan Chronicle
We had a staff member in Raglan visiting key locations on 18th April.
We also had a staff member talking with intending passengers at the Transport Centre yesterday.
Actions to come:
Advertising in the Raglan Chronicle, including trip times
Advertising via the Raglan Community Radio, including trip times
Further Advertising on buses