It is billed as the ‘‘early morning pick-up that works'' and, after its launch at the weekend, organisers say a new early morning Dunedin bus service may more than live up to its name.
The bus service and a new one-way door policy, also introduced in Dunedin bars at the weekend, were being hailed a success after a positive first few nights.
Dunedin city council road safety community adviser Henriette Rawlings said after a slow start on Saturday morning she was ‘‘thrilled'' with patronage levels on the ‘‘Take me home'' $5 bus scheme yesterday morning.
The Otago Daily Times counted at least 50 passengers who took the buses yesterday morning.
The scheme, an initiative of and funded jointly by the Dunedin city council, police, ACC, liquor licensing authority and safer communities group, sees three buses leave from set pickup points on George and Princes Sts each hour from 1.30am to 3.30am on Saturday and Sunday.
‘‘The idea was to take people out of the Octagon at a critical time. ‘‘I think it will become more popular as word spreads. But the response, particularly on the southern and Mosgiel routes, has been amazing.''
The council was prepared to ‘‘take a hit'' financially during an 11-week trial period, while the appeal and viability of the scheme was assessed, she said.
Admission to the buses was at the discretion of security staff at each stop and on the buses, and anyone who appeared overly intoxicated - to the point they might become unwell or aggressive towards staff - would not be admitted.
‘‘So far, people have been pleasant, and the mood has been jovial. ‘‘We are also seeing people of all ages using the service,'' Ms Rawlings said.
Passenger James (20), a University of Otago surveying student, said he and a friend had heard about the service by word of mouth, but were not aware of the timetable. ‘‘I think I would use it again,'' he said.
Mark McLeary, of Mosgiel, said he was happy not having to pay up to $40 for a taxi fare to Mosgiel, and would encourage his daughter, whom he had accompanied to town, to use the service in future.
Dunedin police said they were also pleased with the way the new bus service, combined with the one-way door policy, had appeared to work over its first weekend.
Twenty-five of the city's bars will trial the lock-out policy for three months.
While bad weather meant Friday night was quieter than usual in the city, police staff working the two nights had reported the few bars still open after 4am had all applied the policy which allows people out of bars but not back in.
Sergeant Dave Scott said people leaving bars had dispersed on the buses or otherwise with little or no increase in the usual early morning disorder.
The policy appeared to have had a positive effect so far, he said. A Ra Bar spokeswoman said patrons trying to enter the bar in the Octagon were mostly accepting of the new one-way door policy.
‘‘My concern would be if the police did not stay around to watch the crowds. People are out and, if they have been drinking, don't want to go home. It's when they are milling around in the Octagon that the problems may start,'' the woman said.
Dilusso bar manager Ken Ariaens said some patrons struggled a little when people in the bar's smoking area were allowed back in to the bar, but people on the public footpath were not.
The only issue had been a lack of knowledge about the new policy, but once patrons were made aware of the new rule they were ‘‘fairly accepting'', he said