Bay Hopper buses have hit a record number of passenger trips for the month of November this year.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council run buses carried a record 165,294 passenger trips in Tauranga last month, slightly up from the last record which was set in March this year.

Routes to Mount Maunganui are one of the most popular.

Regional Council's Public Transport Subcommittee Chairman Douglas Owens says there had been an increase in patronage across all passenger types; adults, children and Super Gold passengers, while tertiary passenger numbers continued to fluctuate throughout the year as normal.

'Bus routes 1 and 2, which run from Greerton and the Windermere Polytechnic area, through the CBD and out to Mount Maunganui, are experiencing the most growth.

'However all of our bus routes have seen some growth in passenger numbers in the last two months.”

'It's great to see that more people are making the most of the public transport services offered in the Bay. It's a positive affirmation that passengers continue to find the services we offer efficient and reliable.

This year's Bay of Plenty Regional Council Bus Satisfaction Survey also revealed some positive results, with 96 per cent of bus users in Tauranga and Rotorua rating the bus service as good, very good or excellent.

On top of that, 96 per cent of users also thought the level of safety on the bus was good, very good or excellent reports the council.

'Since this service was established in 2001 we have seen a huge growth in passenger numbers and the 2012/13 financial year is shaping up to be the busiest year yet.

'Developing sustainable transport in the region is a top priority and this is yet another step in the right direction.”