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Public transport use is on the rise in Dunedin but more could be done to improve the service, a public transport advocate says.
More than 2.5million bus trips were made from June 2018 to June 2019, an increase of about 8% on the previous year.
Revenue from fares also increased by about 7% up to $5.9million.
When combined with Queenstown there were more than 4million trips made on the Otago Regional Council's Orbus network.
In a statement, regional council operations general manager Gavin Palmer said the results were a positive reflection of improvements in public transport.
Investments in the network - such as the bus hub and a simplified timetable service - made for a much more passenger-friendly network, Dr Palmer said.
As well as growing by about 8%, the number of trips was double the growth target.
"We continually monitor services in both Dunedin and Queenstown, implementing changes where we can within the wider context of each network."
A passenger satisfaction survey conducted earlier this year found an 88% overall satisfaction with the service.
Bus Users Support Group Otepoti Dunedin co-president Peter Dowden said any growth was positive but some of the increase could be due to changes to how the service ran rather than just an increased number of passengers.
"A couple of years ago you could get a bus straight to Brighton but now you have to get off at Green Island and catch another bus, so I wonder if that's part of the increase."
Timetable and reliability issues were still an issue on some routes - such as the Mosgiel service - and if that was improved then there would likely be growth across all the city's routes, Mr Dowden said.
While the bus hub had improved the public transport network, it could still be improved, he said.
"It's not as good as it could be because of things like not having enough seating and enough shelter, and not being close enough to the centre of town.
"Just because it is good doesn't mean it's perfect."