7  October 2009   
 
North Shore bus services severely affected from tomorrow
  
"Many North Shore residents and commuters will need to find alternate ways to work or to just get about the North Shore and Auckland from tomorrow morning" says Mayor Andrew Williams.
 
"There will be no North Star bus services operating on the North Shore from Thursday October 8th until further notice due to industrial action impacting all NZ Bus Services." 
  
North Shore buses operating as usual, and in some cases increasing their services to accommodate extra passengers caused by the strike, include:
 
·        Ritchies
·        Northern Express  ( Northern Busway services)
·        Birkenhead Bus Company 
·        Bayes
 
"People unable to use these other bus services need to look at alternate options during this disruptive period, which could last a number of days."
 
Other transport options include:
 
Carpooling:  Help your family, friends and work colleagues get around, and save money, by offering them a ride. You could use ride sharing to reach your destination directly or to access the bus stations at Akoranga, Smales Farm, and Sunnynook, and the park ’n’ ride stations at Constellation and Albany.   
 
Transit Lanes: You could also take advantage of the North Shore T3 lanes on Forrest Hill and Onewa Road and the T2 transit lanes on Shakespeare Road and Constellation and Akoranga Drive.   T3 lanes are for vehicles carrying at least three people and T2 lanes are reserved for vehicles carrying two or more people. For more information go to transit lanes [link to http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/Services/TransportAndRoads/TrafficManagement/Pages/TransitLanes.aspx ] 
 
Ferries: Ferry services will be operating as usual. For ferry times please see the Maxx website  www.maxx.co.nz 
 
For more alternative transport ideas, and the latest updates and information on the bus strike, check the  MAXX website or call (09) 366 6400.   

"I am urging the tens of thousands of people who use public transport, and who will be affected by the North Star buses not operating, to look at the above options to assist them through this period of disruption" says Mayor Williams. "There is going to be considerable inconvenience and added congestion on our roads so people will need to check out what is the best alternative they have, including carpooling, other bus routes, the Northern Busway, ferries or working from home if they can."

ENDS 
 

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