Valley Flyer to introduce Snapper; no more transfers, limited opportunity to convert

Valley Flyer, the bus company providing most bus services for the Hutt Valley, is changing to the Snapper card from the Go Rider card as from 14 June.  

The announcement of the change was made on 3 June by press release and advertising material has been gradually released thereafter, giving commuters very little warning of the change.

The Snapper card is advertised as being faster, easier, cheaper than cash and more flexible.

However under the Go Rider scheme a passenger could pay one fare when transferring between two routes (e.g Normandale to Wainuiomata, Gracefield to Upper Hutt etc) and this will no longer be possible, so this will mean a significant increase in fares where travel covers more than one bus route.  This can be overcome at off peak hours and weekends by purchasing a daytripper but  that is not available at peak times. The Star Pass at $12 is one alternative but in many cases this would be dearer than the Snapper fare.

Although it may be marginally faster to tag on than to hand the driver the Go Rider card, the experience of Wellington commuters who currently use the Snapper card has been that the Snapper does not always register the first time and has to be positioned exactly right to work - if the card functions at all.  Commuters also have to tag off which they did not have to do before so in fact it means delays alighting, which will be an inconvenience when for example transferring to a train.  It is therefore debatable whether it is in fact faster.

A small number of locations have been provided for conversion from Go Rider to Snapper.  These are Queensgate, Waterloo Interchange, Upper Hutt and Wellington City and colleges  No provision has been made for commuters who do not travel to these locations who will have to make a special journey.  Free exchange of a Go Rider for the Snapper is only available for a very limited time,  particularly in Upper Hutt.

Although the Snapper is being advertised as being more flexible because it can be used on any GO Wellington, Valley Flyer or Airport Flyer services, it does not provide for one fare to be paid between say Wainuiomata or  Normandale and Wellington.
 

Information on the introduction of Snapper is available at http://www.valleyflyer.co.nz/tickets-and-timetables/Snapper.php#

One commuter has taken the issue of the claim that the fares are cheaper to the Commerce Commission in view of the increased cost of transfers.  Should others wish to do so they can find information on the procedure on their website at http://www.comcom.govt.nz