The demand on Schoolhopper bus services has caused some first-term teething issues for passengers and Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff.

With more students using the service, the council has received reports of buses being overloaded and delays on routes travelling from Welcome Bay into the city.

There's been some 'first-term teething issues” with the Schoolhopper bus services with reports of busses being overloaded and delays on specific routes. Photo: File

Public Transport Subcommittee chair Lyall Thurston says of the 51 routes, at least three – Welcome Bay, Ohauiti and Hairini – have issues which staff have been investigating for the past two weeks.

'It was always expected there would be a few routes that require changes to timings or bus sizes and it's taken the past two weeks of schools being back fulltime to gather an accurate picture of which ones they are,” he says.

A reoccurring comment council is hearing is that some of routes are being overloaded, with students being required to stand for their journey.

While overloading on any bus service council manage is a serious issue, Lyall says it's important to note busses with standing passengers is not necessarily an overloaded bus.

'Every bus has a specific legal maximum passenger loading which can be found on the registration certificate at the front or side of the bus affixed to a window.

'Most buses are designed to have a certain number of standing passengers, and drivers are asked to make sure it's the younger travellers who are seated while older children stand.”

They are also looking into delays being experienced by routes – especially those travelling from Welcome Bay to the city.

Staff have been out to inspect the situation first-hand and will continue their investigations next week to gather more information about what's causing the delays.

Lyall says the start of the year is always a balancing act as council have no prior knowledge of changes in population growth, roll numbers or confirmed numbers of which students will use busses.

'The bus companies are working to make sure they have the most appropriate-sized buses on each route so we do expect there to be some improvements in the next couple of weeks.”

Lyall is encouraging members of the public who have issues to contact the regional council to investigate, or to contact the police as it would be a breach of the operating certificate.

'The safety of our passengers is incredibly important to us,” he says.

Following the Ministry of Education's decided to withdraw its urban school bus service last year, council launched The Schoolhopper network to fill the gap in Tauranga's public transport network.

Other dedicated school bus services are provided by the education ministry and the Tauranga Transport Network Group.

Schoolhopper fares cost $1.51 for those using a Smartride Card and $1.90 for a cash fare and applies to both the Schoolhopper and Bayhopper networks.

If you have bus loading or timing concerns call the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on 0800-884-880.

For detailed route and stop information visit the Baybus website at: www.baybus.co.nz