The numbers are in, and there’s no doubt Noosa’s Free Holiday Buses over the Easter break were a runaway success.
Better still, there’s evidence the initiative helped to get cars off the road and reduce congestion during one of Noosa’s busiest holiday periods.
A record number of around 33,000 passenger trips were recorded on the free buses which ran for 8 days over the Easter break.
Patronage more than tripled on the five local TransLink services; from 4,358 passenger trips last year when no free services were offered, to 13,738 passenger trips over the same period this year.
The free services included TransLink routes 626 – 629 & 632, additional routes 064 & 065, and Council’s Boreen Point to Tewantin Flexilink and Council Cabs services.
Council’s Director of Planning and Infrastructure, Martin Drydale, said he is delighted with the increase in public transport usage.
“It was pleasing to see that 40% of passengers surveyed said that if the buses were not free, they would have used a private vehicle instead. This indicates that the Free Holiday Buses program contributed to reducing congestion,” Mr Drydale said.
“A 97% satisfaction rate from survey respondents regarding their trip also tells us we’re heading in the right direction,” Mr Drydale said.
Survey results showed that 40% of locals said they would use public transport more in the future as a result of the program and 19% said that while they rarely catch a bus at other times, this Easter they left the car behind and caught a bus instead.
The Free Holiday Buses are funded by Noosa Council’s Public Transport levy, and delivered in partnership with TransLink. The program aims to reduce traffic congestion in the Noosa region and encourage people to give public transport a go.
For all public transport enquiries visit translink.com.au or call TransLink on 13 12 30 anytime – and remember that using a go card can save you 30% off your journey.