City of Coffs Harbour is rolling ahead with a free bus travel plan to bolster community connection and to shine a light on the ease and benefits of public transport.
At its meeting on 14 March, Council resolved to back an initiative by Mayor Paul Amos for a four-month trial of free bus travel on weekends in Coffs Harbour, stretching out to Bellingen and as far south as Macksville.
In what is believed to be an Australian-first, City of Coffs Harbour will partner with local bus operators Forest Coach Lines and Busways Coffs Harbour.
“It may encourage some people sitting at home to become more active in the community,” Cr Amos said.
“The trial will introduce people to the option of bus travel and potentially spark a habit of using public transport.”
The scheme will see free bus travel on weekends from tentatively 5 April to 28 July.
It’s possible the trial may be extended to incorporate Fridays, too, and if that can be accommodated, it would run for three months, from tentatively 5 April to 30 June.
The bus companies will provide daily statistics on the service's use at the end of the trial.