The Waka Eastern Bay van took its first passengers on Monday, to an Eastern Bay Villages coffee morning at the Knox Presbyterian Church.

Four members of Eastern Bay Villages agreed to act as guinea pigs for the new service. They were collected from around Whakatāne and delivered to the meeting by volunteer driver Han Meekel, with help from project manager Rene Lubbe.

The journey was the first in a trial of the door-to-door service over coming weeks, to smooth out any kinks.

Mrs Lubbe said they wanted to have the service running as smoothly as possible before launching it to the public in order to build trust with users that they could be relied upon for medical appointments, outings and other important occasions.

Eastern Bay Accessible Transport Trust chairman Andrew Iles said the service aimed to provide connections for people without other means of transport, between towns and rural areas to reduce isolation. Prices are still being worked out, but rides are expected to cost from about $2.50 for an across-town trip.

While it is beginning small, with one van with a wheelchair lift, and one driver, they hope to gradually increase the service as demand builds.

Among the first passengers was Marie Maxwell, an Eastern Bay Villages member who has never held a drivers licence due to being legally blind.

Mrs Maxwell said she walks most places if the weather is fine, but sometimes travels by taxi or bus. She said even with her Bay of Plenty Regional Council mobility card, which gives her a 50 percent discount, the trip by taxi would have cost her upwards of $7.

Most of the funding for operational costs, including to rent the vehicle, has come from Waka Kotahi, NZ Transport Agency and there has also been funding from other trusts and organisations.

Mr Iles said since the story in last week's Beacon about the arrival of the service's van, there had been a lot of interest from the community in using the service.

'What we really need now is more volunteers, both to drive the van and to accompany the driver on every trip, assisting people in and out of the vehicle,” Mrs Lubbe said.

Anyone interested in volunteering for these roles can contact Mrs Lubbe on 027 4077526 or by emailing [email protected].

-Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.