From Monday 12 May 2025, the remaining bus bike rack restrictions will be lifted in Canterbury, allowing customers to use racks anytime on Metro’s public transport services.

It follows NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)’s safety notice which it issued in October last year, that determined the way some bus models are fitted with bike racks can partially obscure headlights.

Environment Canterbury worked closely with its operators and NZTA to identify and fix the issues in its fleet.

The solution has seen operators installing additional lights on the buses that require them to provide the necessary visibility.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer this service fully to our community again,” Chair Craig Scott said.

“We also want to recognise all the work which has taken place to make this happen – there were many long days and nights of testing lights and working on a solution. It's been no small feat.

“We know people have been itching to use the racks as normal. This will allow them to do just that,” he added.

As a regular bike rack user, Connie Christensen, is thrilled with the news. She mentors a young woman with down syndrome, and says it gives her mentee a sense of independence.

“Her and I meet weekly for a bike ride and now that we’ve been doing it for a couple of years, we’ve been going on some longer rides,” she said.

To do these longer rides they’ve been combining it with busing, so that they’re able to bike one way and bus the other, which is also helping her mentee build confidence to use the bus.

“It’s been really exciting being able to go a little further. So, we’re really looking forward to resuming that, thanks to the restrictions being lifted.”

For anyone who hasn't used our bike racks yet, there’s a practice rack inside our central city Bus Interchange that can be used to practise putting on and taking off your bicycle. There’s also this how-to video available to view: 

“We want to thank our community for their patience while we worked to resolve this issue – we look forward to seeing the racks in use at all hours again,” Chair Pauling said.

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