Bikes in buses trial

About the bikes in buses trial:

We are trying new and different ideas to make public transport in Auckland more convenient and enable more travel by active modes.

We are doing a closely monitored study to understand some of the practical complexities of having bikes in buses in Auckland.

How the trial will work

• A two-week trial of two different types of bike racks, situated inside two double decker buses servicing the NX1 route.
• Each rack is designed to hold two bikes. This means space for two cyclists to park their bikes on each bus.
• Only pre-selected volunteers will be using the racks during the trial. Because of the level of co-ordination and monitoring needed during the trial, unfortunately it is not open to everyone. Volunteers must be registered with AT, undergo safety briefings and scheduling, and be in constant contact with project managers during the trial.
• The Northern Express has been chosen as it uses double decker buses and provides a high service frequency, therefore using only 2 buses for the trial will have a small impact on the overall level of service.
• An online survey is below, for regular customers on theses buses to have their say. Feedback from operational staff and volunteers involved in the trial will also be gathered.

What we’re trying to learn

• We are testing the viability of commuters carrying their bikes into, and securing them inside buses.
• Design insights for the racks and potential modifications required to buses.
• Impact on bus passengers, cyclists, and bus drivers in terms of behaviour and interaction.

Benefits for and impacts to the community

By making it easier for Aucklanders to combine a bicycle ride and a public transport trip, it opens up options for more people to use public transport. This could save many Aucklanders time and money, as well as contributing to health and environmental goals.

What happens next

The trial will start on 5 November at the bus depot in Albany. From 11-17 November, the trial will be conducted in service, on the NX1 route through the entire day.

Results and feedback will be collated and a report presented to stakeholders for review.

How to contact us

Please complete the survey below if you wish to provide feedback. Or email us on Fraser.Barrons@at.govt.nz. Please provide your feedback by Wednesday 20 November.

Link opens survey in a new tab

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. Can I take an electric bike on the bus?
   Yes.
2. Can I take my cargo bike or bike with a child seat on the bus?
   Max length 1.9m
3. How will I know if the bus is one of the two with a rack?
   There will be clear signage on the bus. Look out for the circular bicycle symbol.
4. How can I be part of the trial?
   Please contact to Fraser.barrons@at.govt.nz to see if there are spaces available in the trial.
5. Can I use the rack if I’m not part of the trial?
   No, sorry. The trial requires a lot of coordination with volunteers and the bus operator, this needs to be organised in advance and the racks will need to be free for these volunteers to use.
6. Why not trial bike racks on front of bus like rest of Aotearoa New Zealand?
   This has been considered in the past. However, for this project we are trying something different to assess the viability of bikes being inside.