Residents have their say on "Taxi-bus"

Warkworth residents are being surveyed on a Taxi-bus service to see if
this could be a solution to the lack of public transport in the area.
The survey has been prepared by the Auckland Regional Transport
Authority (ARTA) and Rodney District Council (RDC), in conjunction with
Hikurangi Foundation who initiated the idea for such a service.

Hikurangi Foundation’s project manager, Bevan Woodward of Warkworth is
impressed with the willingness of ARTA and RDC to investigate the
possibility of such a service. Woodward says:

“Traditional bus services working to fixed routes generally don’t work
well in rural areas due to the small and dispersed populations, hence
our interest in a Taxi-bus service. I’ve recently visited a number of
Taxi-bus operators in Europe who are providing cost-effective and
convenient door-to-door public transport. We’d like to find out if such
a service is viable in the Warkworth region, so we are grateful for ARTA
and RDC’s involvement and encourage all residents to take a few minutes
to fill in the Taxi-bus survey.”

“We expect that if the Taxi-bus trial goes ahead, it will be as easy as
making a phone call or texting to request a ride. Such a service will
assist the residents in the Warkworth area who are unable to drive, such
as the elderly or teenagers, and also provide an option to tourists who
appreciate the convenience of good public transport whilst reducing
their carbon footprint.”

The survey is being delivered to 7,000 households in the Warkworth area
and is also available online at www.maxx.co.nz/network-developments.html
Completed surveys should be mailed using the Freepost address by
Friday September 3rd. Everyone who completes a survey goes into the
draw to win a $300 New World shopping voucher.