300 percent jump in ridership - thanks to free transit

Transit plan promotes ways to reach remote areas | NewsChief.com: "On April 24, Polk State College started subsidizing free public transportation for its 20,000 students, faculty and staff. Southeastern University and Everest University in Lakeland have done it, Phillips said. The Transit Authority has been talking with Florida Southern College.

Mayor Kay Hutzelman asked about Webber International University and Warner University, but Phillips said they haven't taken the offer, yet.

Riders to and from Polk State averaged 2,400 rides per month before the arrangement, Phillips said.

In October, the total number was 9,857 rides, he said."

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AppalCART Sets Record for System-Wide Ridership | High Country Press

AppalCART Sets Record for System-Wide Ridership | High Country Press: "The AppalCART system is growing each year. The first year in operation, the AppalCART only saw 286,000 passengers for the entire year. That number can now be matched in a month."

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Free Transit big success in Châteauroux

What Really Happens When a City Makes Its Transit System Free? - Jobs & Economy - The Atlantic Cities: "Mayet, a member of France’s socialist party, did what few mayors confronted with a struggling mass transit system would do: he made the whole thing free.

Ever since, the otherwise ordinary French town has become a canary in the coal mine of transportation policy, closely watched by the dozens of other municipalities in various stages of free transit experiments. According to a report [PDF, French] released this year, per person ridership in Châteauroux has jumped from 21 trips a year to 61. Total ridership is up 208 percent in 11 years."

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Free buses in China to encourage public transport

In a bid to encourage people to choose public transportation, the southwest Chinese city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, waived bus fares and offered discounts on metro fares from today.
According to a spokesman with the Chengdu Municipal Public Transport Group Corp, the free bus fare policy will remain in effect until June 30 next year.
Today, 33 bus routes went fare-free, and the number will increase to 44 by the end of the month.
The mega-city on Monday introduced a regulation ordering some vehicles off the streets on certain days depending on the license plate numbers, a system that has also been carried out in Beijing and some other Chinese cities to help ease traffic congestion.
However, the vehicle restriction and bus fare exemption policy brought new troubles this morning, drawing larger-than-ever crowds to bus and metro stations, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Many netizens vented on Sina Weibo, China's popular microblogging service, complaining that they could not catch a bus in the morning.
"Today, I was lost in Chengdu's chaotic public transport system," wrote netizen 'Hejin firefly'.
The company will continue to improve public transport services by adding bus shuttles and opening more bus routes, among other measures, to cope with increasing demand for public transport, the spokesman for the public transport company said.
Despite the complaints, citizens in other Chinese cities such as Nanjing, Ningbo and Shenzhen called for other cities to usher in such incentives.
Like all big cities in China, Chengdu sees heavy traffic jams, especially during weekday rush hours, with drivers complaining about slow movement of vehicles during peak traffic times in the city's downtown.
The three cities, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have restricted the purchase of new cars to ease traffic on the roads.

Indian Express, 10 Oct 2012. Beijing.


 

Foothill transit to go fare-free in 2013

Seneca, bus company honored at White House » Anderson Independent Mail: "Foothill Transit was the first to put the all-electric bus to work in its fleet about three years ago. In 2013, Seneca intends to switch its entire gas-powered buses to an electric fleet. Seneca city administrator Greg Dietterick attended the ceremony. He said it offered a chance to publicize the fact that in 2013, Seneca will become the first all electric, fare-free, public transit fleet in the nation. Dietterick said the city will soon be hosting visitors from across the globe, wanting to see an all-electric bus fleet in action."

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Park City Transit free transit attracts shoppers

Park City Transit provides free transportation - The Park Record: ""We do this trip about once a year during the summer," she said. "We come up and go all over Park City to shop and see the sights.""

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Avesta Sweden - free public transport

Free Public Transport Europe: "Populär premiär för gratis busstrafik - Nyheter - m.avestatidning.com: Populär premiär för gratis busstrafik

NYHETER Två år har gått sedan förslaget om gratis busstrafik lades fram. Nu har det blivit verklighet och gratistrafiken är i gång. På måndagen kom många till busstationen för att delta i premiärminglet."

Durham, NC, Bull City Connector

http://www.bullcityconnector.org/

Providence Elementary students create pictures for CVTD buses - The Herald Journal: News

A portion of the artwork displayed on a Cache Valley Transit District bus. The art was created by 4th graders at Providence Elementary School. (Jennifer Meyers/Herald Journal)

Providence Elementary students create pictures for CVTD buses - The Herald Journal: News: "PROVIDENCE — For one day, bus No. 1146 from the Cache Valley Transit District got to go back to school.
Students from Providence Elementary were given the opportunity Friday morning to tour the public bus recently adorned with examples of their own artwork. Under the direction of Aurora Hughes Villa, arts coordinator for the Cache County School District, and Providence Elementary arts specialist Robin Evans, fourth-graders from Providence participated in a pilot program titled, “Art in Transit Project — Bringing Communities Together.”"

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Idaho free bus system a huge success

Citylink: Reliable. Efficient. Free.: "Citylink transit, launched in 2005, provides reliable, efficient, and free public bus service to Kootenai and Benewah counties in North Idaho. This transit operates five routes, 22 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. The interconnecting network comprises over 100 stops, spread across 200 miles of road, and transports an average of 40,000 passengers per month."

Parsippany, NJ, buses free for residents

http://www.parsippany.net/

Community Transportation Association Reduced and Fare-Free list

Two characteristics of the future job market necessitate that communities develop programs that make transportation – whether on public transit, commuter routes, vanpools, carpools or other mode -- more affordable to future workers:

1. Labor market indicators predict that most new jobs will be low-wage jobs, and
2. More workers to will hold multiple part-time jobs, increasing the number of trips each work day.

This chart identifies currently operating reduced and free fare programs both across the country and abroad. The programs included are those that apply or could be expanded to apply to low-wage earners and their families, older workers, workers with disabilities, veterans and adult students.

Click here for chart

For more about:

http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=23&z=2

Nigerian state introduces free transport for all school children

THE Enugu State Government has introduced free transport services for primary school pupils and secondary school students in the state.

By Emma Ugwueze, "The Moment" - independent Nigerian newspaper 23 Jan 2012.

THE Enugu State Government has introduced free transport services for primary school pupils and secondary school students in the state.

This is part of the palliatives the government has rolled out to cushion the effect of the increase in the pump price of petrol,

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, who disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the first meeting of the Year of the State Executive Council said the service would be provided by the government owned Coal City shuttle buses.

According to Mr. Ugwoke, the bus services would operate in all parts of the state between half past six in the morning and to three in the afternoon.

He however added that the buses would only pick up students in school uniforms.

The Commissioner explained that government’s decision was in line with the administration of Governor Chime’s resolve to improve quality of education and make commuting for students much easier, more convenient and affordable.

He added that the governor has also approved over N238,355,761.00 (two hundred and thirty-eight million Naira) for the renovation and upgrading of infrastructure at the School of Health Technology, Oji River, and School of Public Health Nursing/Health Technology, Nsukka.

One hundred and twenty- one million Naira (N121,810,581.00) will cover construction of class rooms, administrative office, library, hostel blocks, water boreholes and ICT centre at the Oji River while over one hundred and sixteen million Naira (N116,545,180.00) would be spent for the same project at the school of Public Health Nursing, Nsukka through direct labour.

[Egunu State pop: nearly 6 million]