Free buses are back for summer holidays

Travel by bus on the Coast will be free again this summer with the return of Sunshine Coast Council’s Free Holiday Buses program.

Council has partnered with TransLink to provide free travel on all public buses for locals and visitors from Wednesday 26 December 2012 to Sunday 6 January 2013.

Transport Strategy Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the program, funded by council’s Public Transport Levy, helped make travel easier for people on the Coast during the hectic holiday period.

"We’re encouraging people to jump on board and try public transport services free of charge to see what’s available to them and in particular how attractive catching a modern bus can be," he said.

"The Free Holiday Buses initiative has proved very popular in the past with about 300,000 passengers using public buses during the free period last year.

"It’s great to see people making the most of the free buses and hopefully considering using public transport on a more regular basis.

"The Free Holiday Buses program not only increases awareness and patronage, but also helps ease congestion on our roads throughout the busy festive season."

All Coast public transport will be free from 26 December to 6 January including:

• TransLink’s Sunshine Coast Sunbus services (27 routes across the Sunshine Coast)
• Glasshouse Country Coaches services (Hinterland Connect and Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah)
• Flexilink services (Boreen Point to Tewantin, Conondale to Witta to Maleny, Kenilworth to Mapleton and Peachester to Beerwah)
• Council Cabs services

Normal booking procedures apply to Council Cabs and Flexilink services.

Timetables for Sunbus services are available from translink's website or phone 13 12 30 anytime.

For Glasshouse Country Coaches, Council Cabs and Flexilink timetables visit council's website or phone (07) 5475 7272.