The newly designed website contains existing and updated content, improved navigation and usability to find info faster on any device.
The newly designed website contains existing and updated content, improved navigation and usability to find info faster on any device.
Thursday 14 September 2017
With route and timetable changes coming to the Dunedin bus service on Monday (September 18), the team at the Otago Regional Council are making final preparations towards a transition that’s as smooth as possible. This week’s column focuses on some of those final preparations.
We’ve been working on some changes to how we share information with you about the bus service. An upgrade of the look and feel of the whole Regional Council website has been in process, which gave us a great opportunity to revisit the way we display timetable information online.
We now have the bus timetables for 18 September and beyond available to view on a preview version of the new site, accessible via www.orc.govt.nz/buses. We are very keen to get feedback from you while the site is in its preview version.
You’ll notice some differences from the old Dunedin bus web pages. For instance, the Google maps-driven Journey Planner tool is accessible from inside the website. Give it a whirl – it’s as simple as entering your departure point and where you want to go.
A key difference to our bus timetable information online is that each bus stop is shown, making it easy to approximate the timing and giving you clarity on details of the route. The timetables are also easier to navigate on your mobile.
We’re keen to hear your feedback on the usability as well as the look and feel of the bus information on the new website via our online feedback form or give us a call on 03 474 0287.
Look out for our insert in today’s Star. It gives summary details by route of the routes that are changing – routes 5/6, 8, 10/11, 14, 18, 33, 50, 63, 70 and the new Ridge Runner, route 15.
To help streamline our communications with bus-users, we’ve set up a separate ‘Otago Regional Council Bus Services’ facebook page - which can be accessed by visiting https://www.facebook.com/OtagoBusServices/. We encourage you to ‘like’ the page to keep up-to-date with news and information about bus services – including alerts and advisories if there’s a disruption to the service.
Changes to routes will mean buses will run up some roads that didn’t previously have bus stops on them. We’ve been working closely with the Dunedin City Council towards getting new bus stops in place and, from Monday, temporary stops will be in place in Lynn St, Shetland St, Glen Rd and Midland St. For more detail, see our preview website via www.orc.govt.nz/buses.
Look for this column in your Star every week as the Regional Council works towards improvements to your bus services.