Supergold card helps boost Hamilton bus passenger numbers

Older people are “joyriding” for free on Waikato bus services since the introduction of the Supergold travel card, the regional passenger transport committee has heard.

Under the new national scheme introduced last year, Supergold card holders became eligible for free off-peak travel on Environment Waikato bus services under a funding arrangement with the New Zealand Transport Agency.

The Supergold perks came on top of existing discounts available in Hamilton for holders of a 60+ card.

The committee received a report this week that said Hamilton bus passenger numbers had risen by more than 82,000 in December compared to December 2007. “Of this approximately 15,000 can be attributed to the difference in usage between the 60+ card last year, and the combination of the 60+ card and Supergold card this year,” the report said.

EW’s land transport operations manager Bevan Dale said today there was anecdotal evidence from bus drivers that pensioners were using their Supergold cards holders to “joyride” around the city and to places like Raglan.

“It’s pleasing to see the evidence – both from the numbers and from our drivers – that the Supergold cards are clearly making a real difference to the lives of older people in Hamilton and the wider region.”

Mr Dale said EW would continue to monitor trends with Supergold card use to see if it had any implications for EW’s services.