FreeBee, the free bus which travels around Sheffield’s city centre, is one year old today (27 October).
The hugely popular bus service regularly carries 10,000 passengers a week. In its first year it has carried over 400,000 passengers – 150,000 more than predicted when it was launched in October 2007. It has proven so popular that bigger 38-seater buses were introduced on the route in July, with step-free entrances and the latest in low-emission engine technology.
South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), which funds the FreeBee, has spoken to passengers to find out who is using it and what they think of it.
On board surveys reveal a very high satisfaction rating of over 82% for the service overall, with specific praise for the frequency and reliability of the route, the friendliness of the drivers and the ease of boarding and alighting from the bus.
Although the main reason for use of the service is for shopping – with stops at the Moor and Castle Markets being particularly popular – over a quarter of users did so for work/business reasons with the time saved compared to walking quoted as the most important reason for using the service.
David Young, Head of Transport Integration at SYPTE, said: “FreeBee has been an outstanding success and in its first year has beaten all the targets we set for it. It is making a major contribution to helping people get around Sheffield City Centre.”
FreeBee runs around the city centre, Monday to Saturday with buses arriving every seven minutes between 0700 to 1900 on weekdays and from 0800 to 1900 on Saturdays.
Buses run 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.
FreeBee 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.
For more information about the service visit travelsouthyorkshire.com or call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51.