FREE RIDE: Cityride buses will be free over the festive season.
FREE RIDE: Cityride buses will be free over the festive season.
Rotorua's CityRide buses will be free over the Christmas and New Year period.
The city's bus services, which are managed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, will be free from Monday December 23 to Sunday January 5, excluding public holidays.
"This is a great way to thank our regularbus users and I hope people who have perhaps not previously travelled by bus will also take advantage of the free service," Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport Sub-Committee chairman Lyall Thurston said.
"It will also be a great way for our visitors to get around over the festive season.
"We're really trying to encourage more people to use public transport to reduce traffic congestion and the impact vehicles have on the environment," Mr Thurston said.
"It's hassle-free, cheaper than using your own transport and the free pre-Christmas services are a chance to check out what's available and consider becoming regular bus users."
During the 2012/13 financial year there were 951,432 passenger trips taken on the Rotorua bus service.