TheBus’ new daily pass allows riders to roam

The rollout of TheBus’ new one-day pass was met with minimal fuss and even a bit of happy surprise Sunday.

The passes, available for purchase on TheBus, allow for unlimited travel between 12 a.m. and 2:59 a.m. the following day. The passes are available for $5 (adults), $2.50 (youth) and $2 (disabled, senior, U.S. Medicare and TheHandi-Van cardholders). Monthly and annual passes are still available.

The fee is double the cost of a single, one-way fare for each classification of rider, and that fare remains in place.

With the introduction of the new pass, the city discontinued the use of transfers, which previously allowed riders to connect to another route within for no additional fee a two-hour window.

The change is the result of a new law intended to streamline the boarding process and boost ridership.

Lulu Marasigan and her sister Necie took the bus from Marasigan’s home in Hawaii Kai to nearby Holy Trinity Church and asked for a transfer for the ride back. The operator explained that transfers were no longer available and told them about the new pass.

The sisters used their Medicare cards to purchase a pair of discounted passes and set out on an unplanned day of mass-transit gallivanting.

By the time they reached Ala Moana Center in the late afternoon, their $2 passes had already covered five bus trips that had taken them from Hawaii Kai to Kuliouou to various points in Waikiki and Ala Moana.

“It’s really good,” said Marasigan, 77. “It’s so convenient. I don’t usually ride the bus but I enjoyed it.”

Neijook Joseph, 21, of Waimanalo, said she usually rides the bus on weekends to her job at the Red Lobster restaurant in Waikiki. For her, the new changes are unlikely to have any effect but she said she could see problems for those who only intend to travel one-way.

“It might be bad,” she said, reasoning that a one-way trip involving two separate buses would now cost a rider twice as much without a transfer.

Sarah Cruz, 17, uses the bus at least five days a week. Like Joseph, she said the one-day pass could be a net positive for two-way riders but perhaps not for those traveling in one direction.

“It’s too bad they couldn’t keep (the transfers) for those who still need it,” she said.

Phoebe Grant, 33, just bought a car but used to use the bus three to five times a week. She said the new pass would cost her the same as what she would typically spend for an out-and-back trip.

“I kind of wish we still had the option (of a transfer),” she said.