Regular weekday services along some bus routes will be reduced by about half when the changes begin next Tuesday, and many early run times will be pushed back.
Overall, services would be reduced by about a third in Dunedin and about a quarter in Queenstown, the council told the Otago Daily Times this morning.
The change is due to an already short-staffed fleet of drivers feeling the effects of Covid-19 and winter illnesses, causing a recent flurry of cancellations.
The Otago Daily Times visited the bus hub in Great King St yesterday to talk to bus users after the council confirmed the new timetable yesterday.
Nicola Kelly said she usually caught the number 3 bus, a Ross Creek to Ocean Grove route, arriving at work about 7am.
This would no longer be possible, with the earliest service on the reduced timetable running an hour later than usual.
The number 3 would also run the bulk of its weekday services on an hourly, rather than half-hourly, timetable.
As a ratepayer, she should be able to rely on bus services, she said.
"I am worried about it — worried, frustrated and annoyed."
David, who did not want to give his last name, said he had no choice if he wanted to get to work on time.
The earliest run on the number 77 bus between Mosgiel and the city centre would begin at 7am rather than 6am, a change that would have him reaching for his car keys in frustration.
"It’s an excellent service, the bus, especially with the $1 fares, but I’ll have to change my plans until they restore the timetable."
Another bus user said she had the choice of either the number 33 or number 50 bus.
This week, her Monday morning commute began with a half-hour wait in the cold as two buses were cancelled, so she thought consistency of buses could be helpful for commuters.
A nurse said she relied on the number 44 bus to get to and from work at Dunedin Hospital .
She was worried about the impending drop-off in buses, but would continue to use them, she said.
"It’s too much, especially if you’re tired from work and just want to be home quickly.
"We don’t have a choice, we commuters just have to wait."
The new timetable would focus on maintaining bus services at peak demand times, and would also maintain school bus routes, the council said.
Transport manager Doug Rodgers said the changes would be in place for at least a month.
"We will need to have sufficient healthy drivers to increase reliability in order to return to a full schedule".
