Free buses for youngsters

Tuesday 01 March 2016

Children under five can now catch the bus for free and most of us should see cheaper fares from today.

LibertyBus hope their new fare structure will get more of us onto the buses and say over 95% of us will see either cheaper fares or a price freeze.

They've introduced a new Island-wide flat fare for adults that's £1.50 per journey with Avanchi pay as you go (PAYG) - the same fare as we were paying six years ago - or £2 if you are paying cash and there is no change to student fares.

LibertyBus General Manager Kevin Hart said: “We introduced the AvanchiCard as a method of payment on the bus service in mid 2013. The AvanchiCard system has been well received and now 61% of passenger journeys are paid for by AvanchiCard.

Using one of our AvanchiCard products saves time boarding and more importantly, saves our customers money.”

You can find out more and apply for an AvanchiCard here. 

For those waiting for a bus, eight new shelters have been built this winter - the first at the Southbound Red Houses bus stop, the fourth busiest bus stop in Jersey. it's a bigger shelter than the others and has been jointly funded by the Department for Infrastructure and The Channel Islands Co-operative Society.

Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel said: “Red Houses was the busiest bus stop in Jersey that had not yet been equipped with a waiting shelter. We are grateful to The Channel Islands Co-operative Society and Deputy Truscott in his liaison role for helping us to provide this facility.  I am sure it will be very highly valued by existing and future customers of the bus service.”

The Society’s Chief Executive Officer Colin Macleod said “Concern for the environment is one of our core values. The installation of this community bus shelter seemed to us like a great way to subtly encourage a few more islanders to consider public transport, especially on those days where the weather isn’t brilliant!”

The following shelters have also been built:

• Clos Orange northbound, served by bus routes 12 and 22

• Rose Farm, served by bus routes 12 and 15

• Airport Garages northbound, served by bus routes 15 and 22

• Hameau de la Mer westbound, opposite a new housing development for the over-55s, served by bus route 1

• Millennium Court westbound, served by bus route 1

• The Limes southbound, served by bus route 1

• La Hougue Avenue southbound, by Warwick Farm, served by bus route 5

12 shelters in total have now been installed over the last year including the first and only two bus shelters in St Mary's Village, one opposite the Church and one outside the primary school.

Deputy Noel said: “Improving facilities for bus users by providing waiting shelters is an excellent way of enhancing the attractiveness of public transport.  With shelters having been installed at four other bus stops earlier in the year, I am very pleased that my Department was able to deliver a record number of shelters in 2015. I am keen to see more installed in 2016, where feasible, and I’m trying to secure the funding needed for 12 more shelters.”