FreeBee - Sheffield City Centre’s free bus service – has now carried over 10,000 passengers in a single week – the highest figure since it was launched.
This rise in the number of passengers means that after only nine months FreeBee has carried over a quarter of a million people, which was the target set for its first full year.
And to accommodate the large number of people who are using it newer and bigger buses have now been introduced. The new vehicles have 38 seats.
FreeBee links the main shopping areas in the city centre, as well as the rail and bus stations in Sheffield and passenger numbers are continuing to grow week-on-week.
It was launched last October as part of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive’s (SYPTE) strategy to encourage more people to use public transport.
It is used by local residents, commuters, students and visitors and is fast becoming a feature of the city.
David Young, Head of Transport Integration at SYPTE, said: “To beat our initial projections in just nine months is incredible. The bus service has proved so popular we recently had to put bigger vehicles on the route but to carry 10,000 people in one week is fantastic. “
FreeBee runs around the city centre, Monday to Saturday every seven minutes - 0700 to 1900 on weekdays and from 0800 to 1900 on Saturdays.
It is funded by SYPTE and operated by TM Travel, who are both members of the Travel South Yorkshire Partnership. The buses are easily recognisable in Travel South Yorkshire blue and white livery with the bee logo.
Buses run to and from Sheffield Interchange via Flat Street, Castle Street (for the markets), Arundel Gate, Norfolk Street, Pinstone Street (for the Town Hall/Fargate), Furnival Gate, Charter Row, Moorfoot, Eyre Street, Furnival Street, Paternoster Row (for Sheffield Station) and back to the interchange.
For more information about the service visit travelsouthyorkshire.com or call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51.