Free bus trips offer this weekend
Celebrate World Car Free Day
Some of us of a certain era will remember carless days — a scheme initiated in 1979 to combat the second oil shock.
Forty years later, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) has jumped on board the international World Car Free initiative, begun in 2000, to try and get more people out of their cars and walking or using public transport.
HBRC is celebrating World Car Free day by making the goBay public transport network free all day this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22.
“As an environmental agency, we are very keen to see more people leaving their cars at home and travelling on the goBay network. Not only does this reduce congestion on our roads, but it helps to save emissions, with every kilometre travelled in a car emitting approx 180 grams of CO2. With so many single occupancy vehicles on our roads, travelling by bus with other passengers is a great way to do your bit for the environment,” says HBRC sustainable transport officer Megan Welsby.
Apart from travelling free of charge, Megan says taking the bus is also a good way of getting some exercise, as a trip on the bus usually includes a walk to and from the bus stop.
“If the bus stop is a bit too far from your home, you can always bike to the bus stop and take your bike with you on the bus — bikes are carried free of charge anytime. We’re also hoping people who don’t normally travel by bus will see that it is a viable way of getting around. It’s great to sit back on the bus, relax and enjoy the views, without the worry of finding a car park or finding change for the meter.”
Megan says the council is hoping lots of people will take advantage of the free weekend — families going into town, people visiting friends and relatives, young people going to activities or just generally socialising.
“Even people who just want to take ride around — maybe a trip to Rush Munro’s, the Hastings Art Gallery, MTG Napier, the National Aquarium — there’s so much to see and do close to a bus route.”
The usual weekend timetable will be in place, with all goBay services offering free trips. With most buses carrying around 50 people, each full bus could be taking up to 50 vehicles off the road, Megan says.
“We really hope that people who don’t normally use public transport will take advantage of the free weekend and give the bus a go. You can wait at any goBay bus stop and as you see the bus approach just wave out to the driver.”
As this is the first time the HBRC has celebrated World car Free day with a free bus weekend, Megan says they anticipate there will be enough buses. “If it proves to be popular and we decide to do it again next year, it would be great to think that there will be so many people travelling that we’ll need extra buses.”
With climate change an ever increasing issue, maybe a few more of us could ditch our cars now and then and opt for the bus. The convenience of travelling from door to door, whenever you want, should be outweighed by our concern for the environment.
“Many people want to make a difference and even if you can only take the bus a couple of times a week, you will be doing something positive for the environment. Plus after a busy day at work, sitting back and relaxing on the bus, reading your book, or catching up on your social media accounts is a great way of unwinding. It’s also a great way to meet people and chat to your fellow passengers, and while doing all of these things you will be doing something positive for the environment.”
■ For more information about bus stops, routes, fares, etc, check out www.gobay.co.nz. Timetable booklets are available from any goBay driver or call 835 9200.