I have to admit that, I am always the last person to know things that happened around. And this time, it is about "HOP", the "legendary" transfer card. I have seen the ads of it since last month but never paid any attention to it untill last week, when I was reading news on NZ Herald at that time, a headline about Hop attracted my attention (can't remember the title). This news introduced HOP as a new smartcard ticketing that can be used to pay for buses, trains and ferries in the Auckland Region. It can be also used for purchasing lots of everyday items such as coffee and pies. This news (or maybe not that new already) reminds me of my personal experience with buses.
Basically, I am not a bus person, (according to the short distance between home and Uni, walking is my usual choice for travelling), but still, it is necessary to have a bus card for emergency needs. My bus card is go rider card and at first I thought I could use it for any bus like I did in my home, a captial city in China. However, it turned out that the go rider card could only be used on few buses operated by NZ bus, which really upset me. Imaging a rainy night, you had fun in city, and wanted to go home by bus, you only got few cards in your wallet, no cash and coins. A bus stopped in front of you, you got up and being told that go rider card was not allowed to use on it. So you have to get off the bus, chose to walk back home or to wait another 30 minutes for another bus that can used go rider card. How terrible it is!
Therefore, the launch of HOP is actually a good news to me. I don't have to buy other bus cards or prepare enough coins before getting on the bus any more.I believe that this ticket will make the Auckland public transport system more effcient and more convenient. It will be helpful to make the city more accessible and travel friendly. It is for sure that this card will not only benefits for Aucklanders but also for visitors from outside of the city, especially for those who come to Auckland for the Rugby World Cup. Before HOP, the only similar transfer ticket for travellers was the one cost you $13 in Britomart, which can be used on any public transport but only for one day.....Although at the moment, HOP can only be used on a certain number of buses, but still I am really looking forward to the future when HOP is totally accepted on board through the whole region.
However, issues still exist. Will the acceptance of HOP lead to the increase of bus user population and to the increase of public transports in Auckland? Sure a few more people may be encouraged by the ticket to use public transport towards city center. But what about people who live far away from the city? Those people usually do not have as much choice as people who live in the city of for public transport tools. HOP may be less meaningful and useful for them. The Council needs to do more than just promoting the use of HOP to ensure that every Aucklanders will be able to enjoy the convenient and sufficient transport system.
Here is the link of HOP homepage: http://www.myhop.co.nz/Pages/default.aspx
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