‘Bee’ bus system slowly buzzing along

A much-delayed and over-budget system for bus ticketing in Manawatu¯ has once again been pushed out, this time because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The health crisis does present a bright side, though, with catching a bus to be temporarily cheaper.

A consortium of councils, including Horizons Regional Council, is working on a ticket system that would allow one payment card to be used in many parts of the country.

The card, called a Bee Card, could be topped up online and would work on a ‘‘tag on, tag off’’ basis, such as Auckland’s Hop or Snapper in Wellington.

Horizons’ current system — the Go Card — was only used when people got on the bus. Finding out where people got on and off the bus would give better data, helping Horizons plan its routes.

However, the Bee system has been plagued with issues and delays, with a proposed launch in Palmerston North in January put off because of data-collection problems.

The card was rolled out in Whanganui in December.

Horizons transport planner Kelly Curry told the council’s passenger transport committee on Tuesday the Bee was going to be launched in April or May, but the lockdown had pushed dates out. The new plan was to start installing the hardware in buses in June, while also informing people about the Bee system.

Prices would be dropped until September to get people back on the bus and incentivise the Bee Card.

A ride in Palmerston North usually cost $2.50, but dropped to $2 for those using the Go Card. But the cash price would drop to $1.50, and the Bee Card rate would be $1.20.

Teaching people about the Bee Card would be one of the trickier parts of the launch, Kelly said.

The Whanganui rollout benefited massively from staff going to schools and rest homes to get cards to people, while a group of ‘‘ambusadors’’ were on buses to help with any issues.

Those were not feasible options because of physical distancing and other staff requirements, Kelly said.

Getting the Bee Card to people would have to happen through contactless methods, such as ordering via the Bee website or calling Horizons.

Paying for the bus once the free fare scheme ended was a point of contention for the committee. The scheme was implemented to try to stop the spread of the disease.

Council staff recommended passengers either use the Bee Card or pay with exact change — which could be dropped into a tray, eliminating the need for the driver to touch money— but not top up the card on the bus.

However, Whanganui-based committee member Anthonie Tonnon said people needed to be able to top up their cards on buses. Aucklanders can top up their Hop cards at train station machines but Whanganui lacks similar locations.

The city also had a ‘‘digital divide’’, with people often lining up at the library waiting to use computers. ‘‘They are the people often using the bus,’’ he said.

Topping up on the bus could still be done, just as long as people had the right change, he said.

His idea was supported by the rest of the committee.

The Bee system has been plagued with issues and delays.