Metlink On Demand
A new mode of public transport
Metlink On Demand is a unique corner-to-corner bus service, available to the residents of Tawa and the Porirua CBD.
Riding with On Demand
Once you’ve downloaded and set up the On Demand app, you can book your ride by selecting your virtual pick-up and drop off location. The app will guide you to where the On Demand driver will pick you up and drop you off.
On the way to your destination, other passengers may be picked up and dropped off. The drop off order may not be the same as the order you are picked up. Please note that the driver is not the one who decides the order, but the On Demand system.
As the On Demand service uses either traditional bus stops, or virtual bus stops, please ensure you have the map on the app zoomed in so you can meet your driver at the right place. These stops allow for quick and efficient shared trips without inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.
Book your On Demand rides between
Monday to Friday 6:30am to 8pm
Saturday 8:30am to 7:30pm
Sunday 9am to 4:30pm
Ways to pay
All travel on the On Demand service is within the Tawa suburb and is one fare zone. The fare per ride is $2.50 per person.
If you hold a SuperGold card, travel is free during off-peak journeys only. Children under 5 ride free, but a seat must be booked for them. Other concessions and discounts do not apply.
All On Demand rides are booked and paid for through the app, so a credit or debit card is required when setting up your account.
Metlink On Demand app
Downloading the On Demand app requires a smartphone with data and location services turned on while using the app. Payment of your ride is done within the app, so a debit or credit card is required.
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We know that some of our users have received a less than ideal experience booking one of our vehicles. For Android users, the Metlink On Demand app is compatible with Android 9 and up and available on Google Play.
Need a little help?
You can visit our On Demand Getting Started Guide if you’re looking for some guidance on downloading or using our app.
How it works
On Demand times and availability
Monday to Friday 6:30am to 8pm
Saturday 8:30am to 7:30pm
Sunday 9am to 4:30pm
Virtual stop locations
The service uses “virtual stops” as points to pick up and drop off passengers. A virtual stop is a curb side, unmarked location on a city street where buses will pick up passengers. This is not a traditional bus stop and there is no signage or marked area for buses.
Virtual stops are located approximately every 100m. However, this may vary due to footpath, road, or other conditions which could impact the safety of passengers getting on or off the bus.
Booking your journey
The service can only be booked and paid for by using the On Demand app that you download to your smartphone. During the trial, there are no website bookings or phone bookings through the Contact Centre. On Demand services cannot be flagged down (no hail & ride).
- Request pick-up and drop-off locations using the Metlink On Demand app.
- Choose one of the suggested pick-up or drop off times. Be sure to let us know any accessibility needs too.
- Smart technology allocates a seat for you on a bus that meets your journey needs, along with other passengers sharing the vehicle who have similar pickup locations and destinations.
- The app will direct you to a 'virtual bus stop' within a short walking distance and specify a time when the bus will meet you.
- Driver will ask your name and tick your name off on the list on their screen. It's helpful to have your app open to identify yourself.
- The bus will take you to your destination making stops along the way to drop other passengers off.
Paying for your journey
All bookings and payments are done through the app, using a credit card or debit card capable of online purchases. Standard EFTPOS cards cannot be used on the app. Monthly tickets, Snapper, day passes, cash and paper tickets are not accepted.
Credit or debit card hold
You may notice a charge on your credit or debit card after cancelling an On Demand trip.
When booking your On Demand ride, Metlink will put a hold on your card equivalent to the fare to make sure that there are available funds for you to book the trip. Metlink will only collect the fare once the trip has been completed.
If however, you do not complete the trip, no money will be collected but the hold will remain in place until your bank refunds the amount. Metlink does not control how long this hold is placed on your card. Please contact your bank if you have any issues.
Fares
- All travel on the On Demand service is within the Tawa and Porirua area and is one fare zone.
- The fare per ride is $2.50 per person.
- SuperGold card holders travel free during off-peak journeys only.
- Children under 5 ride free, but a seat must be booked for them.
- Other concessions and discounts do not apply.
Transfers and multiple fares
During the trial, there are no transfers onto other Metlink bus or train services - the On Demand service is an individual journey. You can book up to 10 people onto the service using the app. Costs for all riders are charged to the booking account.