The Coffs Harbour Show is this weekend and getting there will be a breeze thanks to the free bus travel program driven by the City of Coffs Harbour.
Finding a car park close to the Showground can be a challenge during major events like the Show, but residents from Macksville to the Northern Beaches can hop aboard a free bus and save their pennies for a pluto pup or a helter skelter amusement ride.
"The value of public transport really comes into its own during special events when traffic and parking can be testing," City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Paul Amos said.
"Catching a bus can be a great way to get around the Coffs Coast every day of the year, and especially so for mass-participation occasions like the Show."
Cr Amos instigated the free bus service which is supported by $20,000 in funding from the City of Coffs Harbour and is significantly backed and subsidised by local transport operators Busways and CDC NSW/Forest Coach Lines.
The 2024 Coffs Harbour Agricultural Show will run from 4pm to 8pm on Friday 26 April, 9am to 8pm on Saturday 27 April and 9am to 3pm on Sunday 28 April at the Coffs Harbour Showground.
The free bus program applies only to regular services provided by CDC NSW/Forest Coach Lines and Busways (for exclusions and how to plan your trip, visit here).
The free bus initiative will run for three months, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – through to July 14.
"It's designed to ease social isolation and introduce people to the ease of public transport on the Coffs Coast," Cr Amos said.
"People will realise they can get to the shops, medical appointments or the beach by hopping on a bus and it may be particularly appreciated by older people who no longer drive and teenagers who otherwise rely on mum or dad's taxi to get about."
The free bus program kicked off on 19 April and the local transport operators said the early signs were encouraging.
"All of our operational systems worked well and there were some new faces on the buses which is great," ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) Business Development Manager Regional NSW Wayne Edwards said.
Busways Assistant Area Manager Mark Lawrence said the numbers of people travelling on the first weekend were "really positive".
"Anecdotally there were more people than usual. We've definitely had positive feedback," Mr Lawrence said.
Visit the special free bus program page here, which includes links to Busways and CDC/Forest's timetables, and how to plan your trip.
