Helping people to use the Timaru Metro services

If you have a couple of hours to spare a week, are physically fit and enjoy being driven around Timaru, then Environment Canterbury wants to hear from you.

ECan is looking for people who are keen to become bus hosts on Timaru’s Metro bus service, as part of an extended trial to see if having a host on board helps to boost patronage.

The hosts need to be physically confident, enjoy interacting with other people, and of course, riding on buses. Their role is to offer help getting on or off the bus and information about the Metro service.

ECan transport officer (Southern area) Tony Henderson says when the first trial of bus hosts was run in December, patronage increased, so now they want to extend the trial further, but to do so, they need volunteers who are keen to sign up.

“We need four people to do two hours a day each,” he says.

At this stage the trials will be run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10.30-2.30pm on each of the city’s four bus routes.

ECan is working with the Senior Citizens Association to recruit volunteers. Anyone who is interested in finding out more, can either contact the association or Tony Henderson at the Timaru office of ECan.

Tony Henderson says the initiative of trialling bus hosts is unique to Timaru and he believes it suits the community because of its relatively uncomplicated bus service, the compact residential area and because it is a socially-minded community.

ECan South Cantebury Cr Mark Oldfield believes that the bus hosts will benefit Timaru Metro-users, enhance the bus service and encourage people to leave their car at home. “I urge people to support this wonderful initiative,” he says.