Bayhopper bus fares will increase by around five per cent on Monday (August 3).

The price hike will depend on the route, says Bay of Plenty Regional Council transport policy manager Garry Maloney.

Bay Hooper fares will increase by five per cent on Monday. Photo: File.

However, passengers may find their fare has increased slightly more or slightly less than the five per cent amount, explains Garry.

'We've had to allow for the fact that a strict five percent rise would not have worked for passengers paying for their fare on the bus with cash,” he says.

'So where appropriate, the cash fare has been rounded to the nearest 10 cents.”

The increase will also be applied to passengers using Smartride cards, but Schoolhopper fares are not affected.

Garry adds: 'On average, more than 7850 passengers use the Bayhopper and Cityride buses each day.

'They are funded through a mix of funding from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, NZ Transport Agency and bus fares.

'This means that those using the service are paying about one third of the cost of what their ticket pays for.”

For more information about the Baybus network, please visit www.baybus.co.nz or call 0800 422 928.