Sun brings out crowds to test shuttle

The first trial of a free shuttle bus intended to ease congestion on a popular Mt Taranaki car park was a shining success – thanks to the weather.

Nearly 200 people boarded the shuttle during its first day on Saturday, taking them the 10 kilometres from the Volcano View Cafe, on Egmont Rd, to the North Egmont Visitor Centre.

Blair Withers, manager of Withers Coachlines, the company running the shuttle, said the sunny weather drew the crowds to the mountain and they had to get another bus in to help with the numbers.

‘‘That’s a good problem to have,’’ Withers said.

However, on Sunday morning two buses sat empty as there were no passengers in sight.

Withers thought the weather wasn’t as nice, which made all the difference to the numbers.

The car park at the North Egmont Visitor Centre often ends up full and then people start parking on the sides of the narrow road.

Withers said something had to be done to ‘‘minimise the risk’’ .

‘‘It gets congested, and then people can’t get up and people can’t get down.’’

Joep Vergroesen, the owner of the Volcano View Cafe, said he had seen and heard stories about chaos in the car park up at the centre, which is why he had agreed to use part of his site for shuttle parking.

‘‘There’s definitely a need for this, that’s 100 per cent sure,’’ Vergroesen said.

The busy Saturday also meant a busy day for him and his staff. They were making coffees and cooking for people as they waited to go up.

Vergroesen said he hoped any issues would get ironed out in the trial.

The trial has been organised by New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) and the Department of Conservation (DoC).

It runs on the hour from 9am to 5pm each weekend and the trial will be running until early April.

However, not everyone managed to stick to the times – four lads visiting from Auckland to climb the mountain didn’t get back to the North Egmont Visitor Centre until 8.30pm, with the evening weather turning to wind and rain.

Fortunately, they were able to get a lift to the Volcano View Cafe, saving them from a long, wet, walk.

LIAM COURTENAY/ STUFF Withers Coastlines manager Blair Withers said it was a busy day shuttling people up Mt Taranaki on Saturday. Joep Vergroesen, inset, the owner of the Volcano View Cafe, said there was definitely a need for the shuttle to stop car park congestion.