Melburnians are encouraged to try out their local bus service with free weekend travel on all local and SmartBus routes
Melburnians are encouraged to try out their local bus service with free weekend travel on all local and SmartBus routes in Zone 2.
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky says there are three weekends left to take advantage of the free offer.
“There are 216 Zone 2 bus routes around Melbourne that will be free to travel on weekends in September,” she says.
“The Zone 2 free travel initiative is wonderful for SmartBus users, as most SmartBus routes are in Zone 2 – including Routes 888/889, 901, 703.”
SmartBus Route 903 is Zone 2 between Mordialloc and Northland and Route 900 is Zone 2 between Monash University and Stud Park.
“We are two weeks into September and already we have had a great response to the free weekend Zone 2 buses,” Kosky says.
Since 2006, the Brumby Labor Government has upgraded more than 150 local bus services with the majority running until 9pm, seven days a week.
There are now more than 1300 extra Saturday bus services and more than 2800 extra bus services on Sunday.
Kosky says there has been a strong growth in patronage since the recent improvements to weekend bus services.
“Since the introduction of weekend bus service upgrades, patronage is up 51 percent for Saturday buses while Sunday bus patronage is up by a massive 166 percent,” she says.