The second Community Shuttle Trial completed on August 18 2023.
Red our final report.
The first Community Shuttle Trial in 2022 was a ground-breaking, community-led first for the Upper Clutha. It captured an important data set that will help support the planning for future public transport investment in the Upper Clutha.
Due to the success of this trial, it was decided that a second trial would be conducted with financial support from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT), led by a working group with representatives from QLDC, LWT, Yello, Community Networks/LINK and ORC.
The aim of this second trial was to refine elements of the first phase in response to feedback; test different network design options; and collect further patronage data and feedback to inform long-term public transport planning.
Community Shuttle Trial 2023
Community Shuttle Trial 2022
The first Community Shuttle Trial ran from September 28 – December 21 2022, connecting Hāwea, Hāwea Flat, Albert Town, Three Parks and the Wānaka CBD three days a week.
Its aims were:
· To address and enable community led action around the issue of a lack of public transport options in the Upper Clutha;
· To provide a short-term transport service connecting neighbourhoods in Upper Clutha in response to growing need;
· To collect data to test anecdotal demand and inform longer term planning involving multiple parties, including the QLDC and ORC, as our population base grows and comprehensive public transport becomes more feasible.
The Trial was a huge success in terms of positive feedback from people both on and off the bus. The service has an average 4.8 out of 5 star rating from users, with “comfortable,” “safe,” “convenient,” and “friendly” the most commonly used words to describe it.
Ridership numbers were not what we’d hoped, though they appeared to be slowly increasing over time. Feedback indicated that while people would use a more ‘full’ service (e.g. five days a week, more regular trips), the partial service didn’t quite meet their needs. We have heard that our experience echoes that of other transport trials – and this reminds us that behaviour change takes time. Awareness raising is the first step, then changing minds, then changing behaviours that eventually results in higher patronage.
The trial was widely publicised in local print and online media; on local radio; social media and was kindly profiled by Cinema Paradiso as part of their pre-film advertisements.