4000 passengers daily as Free Holiday Bus popularity grows

Council’s free holiday buses remain popular, with TransLink data showing more than 4000 passengers climbed aboard daily during the 2017/18 festive period.

Councillor Brian Stockwell welcomed a significant jump in the number of people catching the free buses to get to and from work.

“21% of passengers surveyed said they were using the free buses for work travel, compared to just 9% of passengers surveyed a year earlier,” he said.

“It’s pleasing to see, over such a short time, so many more residents willing to try a mode of transport other than their private car for their work commute.

“This is the sort of change in behaviour we need to encourage to support our efforts to manage traffic growth and demand for parking into the future.”

4157 people caught the free holiday buses daily during the 2017/18 holiday period, compared to 4025 in 2016/17 and 3926 in 2015/16.

Routes 626 (Tewantin to Sunrise Beach via Noosa Heads) and 627 (Tewantin to Sunshine Beach via Noosa Heads) were the most popular, carrying 75% of the passengers.

“Just over half of those surveyed said that they would use public transport more in the future because of the Free Holiday Buses, which is another promising result,” Cr Stockwell said.

“66% of respondents who caught a Free Holiday Bus said they had access to a car in Noosa, so residents and visitors are actively choosing to take the free bus, instead of drive, which is fantastic to see.”

Travel was free across five regular TransLink services, plus a temporary shuttle between Peregian Beach and Noosa Heads, via Noosaville, from December 26 to January 5.

Council also provided free travel on the Council Cabs service and the Boreen Point-Tewantin Flexilink service.

16 February 2018