There were more than 1,300 rides taken across the two Upper Clutha community shuttle trials but a more substantial trial is needed to better understand likely long-term use of the service, Community Networks/LINK has found.

The organisation has completed its final report on the shuttle trials, which were spurred after anecdotal feedback throughout 2021 about the lack of transport options in the Upper Clutha.

“Community Networks/LINK saw an opportunity for both short-term service provision and data collection to test and inform longer-term planning,” report author and Community Networks/LINK community development coordinator Joanna Perry said. 

The first trial, a Hāwea-Wānaka loop, ran in the last quarter of 2022, and had 665 rides and was reviewed 4.7 out of five by users; the second trial, in mid-2023, featured an intra-city loop and a Hāwea-Wānaka express service, and 552 of the 645 rides were on the Hāwea-Wānaka service.

The trials supported the need, and progressed long-term planning for public transport in the Upper Clutha “in particular for connecting outlying townships to Wānaka”, Joanna said.

Despite growing patronage across the course of most trials, they had their limitations.

“A more substantial trial is needed to find out what patronage is achievable in the long-term,” Joanna said. 

However, the trials have helped propel further work on public transport.

Since the trials, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Otago Regional Council (ORC) have both contracted transport experts to look into potential public transport improvements for the Upper Clutha, Joanna said. 

A public and active travel advisory group, with members from both councils, has also been established to advise on public transport matters.

The second trial received financial support from QLDC and Lake Wānaka Tourism and it was led by a working group from a range of agencies. 

Community Networks/LINK thanked the individuals, businesses and organisations that helped make the community shuttle trials possible.

PHOTO: Community Networks/LINK