When Dunedin's proposed central bus hub is eventually established, some "bus buddies'' could be there to help.
A Dunedin bus users' support group, also called Bus Go, is developing plans to run a "bus buddies'' scheme to help some people use public transport more confidently.
And "bus buddies'' could also help explain to some bus users how the proposed bus hub will operate, and about further planned changes in bus routes when they are implemented, organisers said.
The support group planned to discuss matters with the Otago Regional Council (ORC) and other community groups, including the Disabled Persons Assembly, as the scheme was developed, group co-president Alex King said yesterday.
"There's lots of advantages in more use of public transport - environmental, health benefits,'' Mr King said.
More use of buses meant less air pollution and less burning of fossil fuels, and the bike racks they carried encouraged people to get healthy exercise by combining walking and bike riding with the day's overall bus travel.
The support group wanted to encourage more people to use public transport, which was vital for many Dunedin residents, including people without cars who otherwise could not travel around the city.
But some people with limited vision and other disabilities were unable to make full use of the bus service.
A bus buddy could accompany a bus user travelling to the central city from his or her home, support them during some shopping, and accompany them on the return trip home.
"It will have fantastic benefits for the people we do reach,'' Mr King said.
The bus users' group had already approached Volunteering Otago and was seeking individual volunteers and a volunteer co-ordinator to establish the scheme.
The group was likely to start small and gradually build up, with volunteers helping "other bus users'', and no start date had been set.
The buddy system aimed to help people regain their confidence so they could use the buses themselves without further support.
"There will be people we can help. We'll see how it goes,'' he said.
•The ORC said last year the bus hub was likely to be established about August this year. It is likely to discuss its bus transport plans further at a meeting next week.
