Free buses available for ITM 400

Promoters of the ITM 400 next weekend are again offering free Hamilton bus services to help reduce traffic congestion in the city and minimise the event’s carbon footprint.

People will be able to ride free on all the city’s services run by Environment Waikato from Friday 16 April till Sunday 18 April. This includes the Night Rider after hours service on Friday and Saturday nights.

The normal bus timetable will operate on Friday and there will also be the usual free rugby game shuttle service from the city to the Chiefs-Stormers clash, and back to the city afterwards. However, only normal scheduled services will be operating from the Transport Centre itself after the game.

The normal Saturday and Sunday bus services will be supplemented by an increased 30 minute frequency during peak times between 7:30am-9:30am and 4:30pm-6:30pm. There will be additional back-up buses to assist as required at these peak times.

The council advises that, due to the ITM 400 being on, buses may be more crowded than normal and traffic may be moving slower. "People with important appointments should allow extra travel time to make sure of being punctual," said EW’s land transport operations manager Bevan Dale.

Also, during the event, EW and Hamilton City Council are generally promoting busing, biking and walking as alternative transport options to build awareness of healthy and more environmentally sustainable ways of getting about.

"Buses, in particular, are making an important contribution to the success of big events in Hamilton and we’re pleased to be working closely with the organisers and Hamilton City to make sure the ITM 400 runs as smoothly as possible," said Mr Dale.

More details on timetables and traffic diversions in place during the weekend can be found online at www.busit.co.nz, by phoning 0800 4 BUSLINE or visiting the Transport Centre at the corner of Bryce and Angelsea streets.