Greenlink Encourages Public to “Try Transit”

October 6, 2014

GREENVILLE SC – Greenlink is celebrating Try Transit Month in October with a fare-free day on Oct. 18, and special offers from the Greenville Road Warriors and The Children’s Museum of the Upstate during Fall For Greenville Oct. 10-12.

And for the second year, Greenlink and Greenville B-cycle are teaming up to offer “Fare-Free October” – an initiative aimed at offering residents, students and downtown employees a cost-effective option to travel around the city, run errands or commute by means other than a personal vehicle. Greenville B-cycle annual members will be able to show their Greenville B-cycle card to Greenlink bus drivers in exchange for free rides on Greenlink buses all month long.

According to Greenlink Manager of Administration Greg Baney, the fare-free partnership program was first offered last year in an effort to address what often is referred to in public transportation as the “last mile issue.” The last mile issue, explains Baney, is that a bus stop and someone’s final destination could be as far as a mile away from each other, therefore many bus riders must rely on walking or biking to reach their final destination.

Greenville B-cycle, a partnership of Upstate Forever and Greenville Health System, has stations located at the Greenlink Transit Center, Greenville County Square, Greenville City Hall, Greenville Zoo, Hughes Main Library, the Sterling Community Center, at the corner of Rhett and River Streets, and at the corner of College and North Main Streets.

Greenlink’s fare-free offerings during October include free park-and-ride services during Fall For Greenville Oct. 10-12. Downtown trolleys will take festival goers from Greenville County Square to South Main and Augusta Streets, and a shuttle will transport Fall For Greenville attendees from a free park-and-ride location at the CU-ICAR campus to the Greenlink Transit Center on W. McBee in the heart of downtown. Both shuttle services will operate at half hour intervals beginning 30 minutes prior to the opening time until 30 minutes after the closing time each day of the festival. Fall For Greenville hours are: Fri., 5 pm – 11 pm; Sat. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sun., 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Those utilizing Fall For Greenville shuttles will receive a $5 Off coupon on tickets to the Greenville Road Warriors’ opening night game on Oct. 24, and a Buy One Get One Free voucher to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate that includes a discount on fall break camp, Oct. 16-17. Located at Heritage Green on College Street, The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is along Greenlink’s regular Saturday and Sunday trolley route. Museum hours are: Tues. – Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

On Sat., Oct. 18, Greenlink will present Fare Free Saturday, with passengers on all routes enjoying free rides and transfers, along with a Buy One Get One Free voucher for The Children’s Museum of the Upstate.

“Try Transit Month is an opportunity for Greenlink to partner with dynamic attractions in the Greenville area to introduce public transit to those who may not have considered it as a transportation option,” said Greenlink Transit Director Mark Rickards. “It also is a way for us to thank our regular riders with discounts to area attractions that they may not have had the opportunity to visit.”

Try Transit Month seeks to educate consumers on the economic and environmental benefits of public transit, Rickards said. For example, studies show that:

    • Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.
    • According to the American Public Transportation Association’s Transit Saving Report, a two-person household can save, on average, more than $10,174 a year by downsizing to one car.
    • One person with a 20-mile round trip commute who switches from driving to public transit can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

 

Greenlink provides fixed route transportation services Monday through Saturday in the city of Greenville and throughout Greenville County. It also operates a Clemson Commuter, the CU-ICAR/St. Francis Shuttle and Tiger Connect on weekdays and Saturday. Additionally, Greenlink operates trolleys with Thursday through Sunday service in downtown Greenville, and Greenville Area Paratransit (GAP), an ADA service provided for disabled individuals who are unable to use Greenlink’s fixed route bus service.