MEDIA RELEASE

Lakes Bus Service Set to Cause a Ripple

2 May 2008

Residents of The Lakes will benefit from a new bus service between the Tauriko subdivision and Tauranga city centre.

Route number 12 starts on Monday May 5 with the first service leaving The Lakes at 7.10am. It will pick up and drop off passengers in Greerton and at Tauranga Hospital before arriving in the CBD at 7.40am. The last bus from the city centre leaves at 5.15pm arriving at The Lakes at 5.45pm.

The service runs every hour and will feature a low floor bus making it easier for parents with buggies and those with reduced mobility.

This new service is funded by Environment Bay of Plenty and operated by Bayline.

Regional Land Transport Committee chairman Andrew von Dadelszen says the service has been launched as part of Environment Bay of Plenty's commitment to introducing bus services into growth areas.

"We hope new residents will make good use of the service and will see it as part of the lifestyle attraction of The Lakes. The service offers them the opportunity to commute sustainably, avoid the stresses and strains of driving in peak time traffic and, with petrol at record highs, it's kind on their wallet," says Andrew von Dadelszen.

The Lakes and surrounding area will eventually contain around 3000 homes so it is important to enable people to travel by bus rather than taking individual cars to work, adds Andrew von Dadelszen.

A single fare between The Lakes and Tauranga city centre costs $2.40 with a Smart Ride card for adults and $1.44 with a Smart Ride card for children.

Timetables are available from Hopper Drivers and the sales office at The Lakes, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui i-Site information centres and the Bayline office in Greerton.

For more information call 0800 4 BAYBUS.

ENDS

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