Free bus travel for all tomorrow
IT seems there really is such a thing as a free ride.
The Otago Regional Council is offering free bus travel right across the Dunedin network all day tomorrow, to encourage the city’s residents to leave their cars at home for World Car Free Day.
It is the initiative of Connecting Dunedin, a partnership between the Otago Regional Council, NZ Transport Agency and Dunedin City Council, and gives the community an opportunity to try the bus service free.
Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the partnership was a coordinated approach to transport projects in Dunedin.
‘‘It’s all about making sure that the overall transport system that we’re delivering in Dunedin has all its parts working together well.’’
In terms of forgone revenue, the free rides were expected to cost the ORC about $10,000.
ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker said the buses would be funded by it, with assistance from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).
‘‘With our recent changes to the bus service, we’re very pleased to be able to offer everyone the opportunity to ride our Dunedin bus network for free.’’
NZTA regional relationships director Jim Harland encouraged people to go carfree for a day and ‘‘give the bus a go, particularly if you have not done so for a while’’.
DCC chief executive officer Sue Bidrose said she would be taking the bus and was looking forward to seeing lots of people out and about.
‘‘This is a great chance to leave the car at home and travel around our beautiful city in a different way.’’