The author also used Birkenhead Transport Limited Timetable, effective 21 June 1999, as a guidance while mapping the bus routes and bus stops in the study area. However, field surveys for locating bus stops were necessary. Arcview and Arcinfo were used for data analysis and mapping. They proved to be very useful in implementing most of the research.
2. Existing Bus Service in the Study Area
Bus services cover most residential, commercial, industrial, and educational locations in the study area. These services include trips from Birkdale, Beach Haven, Highbury, Island Bay, Chatswood, Verbena Rd, and Maritime Tce to Auckland City and Takapuna and vice versa. The main bus routes are: (1) Beach Haven ?Rangatira ?Highbury shops ?Auckland; (2) Beach Haven ?Birkdale Rd ?Highbury shops ?Auckland; (3) Beach haven ?Highbury shops ?Takapuna; and (4) Beach Haven ?Glenfield- Link Drive. In addition to these main routes, there are two peak period extras. Peak period A serves residents who are living in Chatswood, Hinemoa St., Island Bay Rd, and Aeroview drive. Peak B serves residents who are living in Verbena Rd, Lauderdale rd, and Eskdale Rd . In addition to this, a request bus service for people living in certain streets exists (Fig. 2). These routes are discussed in the order shown below.
