Christchurch provides a range of bus and ferry services for those living in or visiting the city.
Christchurch bus and ferry services and routes are managed and provided by Environment Canterbury (ECan)(external link), operating under the branding Metro(external link).
If you're new to catching the bus or ferry check out Getting Started with Metro(external link) or see the information below.
Metrocards and travel benefits
Having a Metrocard is the faster, cheaper, smarter way to go:
- Get a Metrocard(external link)
- Benefits of a Metrocard(external link)
- How to use your Metrocard (external link)
- Standard, student, senior and concession fares(external link)
- What to do if you've lost your Metrocard(external link)
- Frequently asked questions about Metrocards(external link)
Maps and timetables
The Metro network provides transport from most suburbs to the city, all shopping centres and a range of attractions around Christchurch.
- Bus maps and timetables(external link)
- Ferry timetables(external link)
- Plan your bus trip(external link)
- Next bus(external link)
- Network map(external link)
Finding the best bus services for you
Travel and fares
- Fares(external link)
- Real-time bus information(external link)
- (external link)Bikes on buses(external link)
- Accessible travel(external link)
- Detours and updates(external link)
- Bus Interchange(external link)
- Frequently asked travel questions(external link)
- Travel safe(external link)
Taking your bike on the bus
Bus shelters
Council owns and maintains most bus shelters in Christchurch. All of the Council's bus shelters are smokefree and vapefree.
General
To report or request the following, please call 03 941 8999, or email info@ccc.govt.nz:
- New bus shelter or seat installation.
- Cleaning of bus shelters and seats or maintenance.
- Missing bus stop signs and poles.
Advertising shelters
Advertising bus shelters are owned and maintained by Ooh! Media. Please phone them on 0800 237 435 for maintenance issues, such as graffiti or broken glass.
Graffiti
For graffiti removal from all council-owned bus shelters and seats outside of normal cleaning, report it online(external link) or call 03 941 8999 and ask for the Graffiti Office.
You can also use Snap Send Solve(external link) to report graffiti and breakages at Council shelters.
Bus lanes
Bus lanes are put in to reduce congestion, increase public transport reliability and make it a convenient, attractive travel option.
Many bus lanes only operate during peak travel times but in some locations they operate 24 hours.
All bus lanes have signage with their hours of operation and during those hours only buses, bikes, emergency service vehicles, motorcycles, motor scooters and mopeds are permitted in the bus lane.
To ensure that the bus lanes operate efficiently, Council actively enforces the lanes. You can get a ticket for $150 for travelling in a bus lane so please make sure you follow the rules.
Bus stop review - Linwood, Woolston
Way safer streets – bus stop review for Linwood and Woolston
We've received Government funding for a range of projects that make it safer and easier to walk, cycle and bus.
We’re upgrading and installing bus shelters to make it way easier, more comfortable, more accessible, and more reliable to take the bus.
We’re focusing on areas that are lacking in real travel choices.
Way more reliable and accessible
By improving the reliability of bus services, improving access to bus stops, and making it more comfortable to wait for buses, we expect more people will choose to use the bus. You help reduce traffic and emissions every time you bus.
We’ve started a review of bus stop locations in Linwood and Woolston. We’ve looked at the number of bus stops and the distance between them. Ideally, we want them close enough for everyone in the street and nearby streets to walk to, but not so close that they affect journey times.
To guide our review and help us make decisions we used Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency review guidelines.(external link)
Our review also considered:
- The location of the bus stops in relation to popular destinations such as schools and shopping centres.
- Transfer points for passengers switching buses.
- How people move between buses.
- The availability of safe pedestrian crossings near bus stops.
Our review has identified that some bus stops should be moved, while others – that are essential – need to stay where they are. Some bus stops may be removed as they’re not at a required location.
Way more comfortable
We want to make it more comfortable to wait for buses, especially on wet and windy days.
We’re proposing to install bus shelters at some of the bus stops. When we make decisions about which bus stops need shelters we consider the bus route, how many people use the service, and its role in getting people to popular destinations such as shopping malls, supermarkets or the central city.
We’ll be installing two types of bus shelters:
- A compact shelter designed to fit into smaller spaces with a depth of 0.5 metres.
- A full-sized shelter with a depth of 1 to 1.5 metres.
Way easier
We’re making changes to bus stop line markings to make it safer and easier for buses to pull into and out of the bus stops, and to prevent cars parking too close to the bus stop. These changes will improve the reliability of bus services.
We’re also making it easier for people to get on and off the bus by adjusting line markings to enable the bus to stop closer to the kerb or bus platform.
Process and timeline
In locations where we’re proposing changes to bus stop locations or shelters, we’ll be visiting surrounding properties.