More people are leaving their cars at home and hopping on the region’s eBus service as fuel prices continue to climb, new data shows.
Patronage on the Wakefield route surged 40% in March, while overall eBus use hit its highest level since the upgraded service was introduced in 2023.
A total of 95,656 passengers used the eBus service during March, an 8% increase and the strongest monthly result in the 32 months since the service began.
Local roads also recorded a noticeable drop in vehicle movements, with sensors in Richmond and Nelson showing fewer cars on the road as people appeared to shift transport choices or travel less.
Nelson Mayor and regional transport committee chair Nick Smith says the figures reflect the growing pressure from rising fuel costs.
“March 2026 saw an 8% rise in eBus use, the highest in the 32 months since the eBus service was introduced. This reflects the sharp increase in fuel costs and the choice presented by the eBus service,” Nick says.
The Wakefield route recorded the biggest jump, with a 40% increase in passengers, followed by a 15% rise on Route 3 between Atawhai and the hospital, and Route 1 between Nelson and Richmond via Waimea.
“Diesel has gone from $1.85 a litre in February to $3.42 today,” Nick says.
“Our councils would today be facing an extra bill of about $50,000 a month or $600,000 a year if we had decided to stick with diesel buses. The other benefit is the service is not facing any risk from potential fuel shortages, it’s reducing the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, it’s cleaner in not emitting PM10 and nitrous oxide, and also quieter.”
Traffic sensor data across the Nelson Tasman region shows a clear decline in vehicle use during March.
In Richmond, the Salisbury and Champion Road sensor recorded a 7% drop in vehicle movements. During the first week of March, 184,717 vehicles were counted, falling to 171,795 by the final week of the month, a reduction of nearly 13,000 movements.
Across the boundary in Nelson, Main Road Stoke recorded an average decrease of 500 vehicles a day, equating to about 14,000 fewer vehicle movements between February and March.
Vehicle count data across the wider Nelson region shows a continual decline in traffic volumes since October 2025.
“This drop in traffic volumes shows just how much pressure households and businesses are under from the hike in fuel prices,” Nick says. “It is clear that people are not just finding alternatives but travelling less.”
The spike in public transport use comes as the eBus service launched earlier morning services on Tuesday, 7 April.
“Our councils have moved quickly to bring these additional bus services forward in response to the pressure on household budgets from the global fuel crisis,” Nick says.
“These earlier services will allow commuters to get into Nelson for 7am and 7.30am starts, and into Richmond for 7.30am and 8am starts.”
Other forms of transport are also seeing increased use.
Cycle data shows March 2026 was the busiest March on the Railway Reserve in the past six years, with about 1,200 more cyclists recorded than in March 2025.
“Council will continue to monitor transport choices in the region as this fuel crisis unfolds and work with government on how we can best support people to adapt to the unprecedented rise in fuel costs,” Nick says.
