Adelaide City councillor wants free public transport in the CBD and North Adelaide
Adelaide City councillor Franz Knoll, whose son is the Transport Minister, wants everyone to be able to ride public transport for free in the city and North Adelaide.
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An Adelaide City councillor wants his Transport Minister son to give South Australians a free ticket to ride on all buses within the CBD and surrounds.
Cr Franz Knoll, who son is Transport Minister Stephan Knoll, will on Tuesday night ask his council to lobby the State Government to make bus travel free within Adelaide and North Adelaide.
He said free public transport would encourage people to visit all parts of the city and help businesses recover from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.
“Here is an opportunity to make public transport more relevant for people and increase the amount of people using it,” Cr Knoll said.
“It will help people get around the city easier, would be more welcoming and … awaken some corners of the city that have had a bit of a decline. ... I’m here to represent the city, he (Stephan) is here to represent the state.”
Tram services between South Tce, the Entertainment Centre on Port Rd, Botanic Gardens and Festival Plaza are free.
The free City Connector bus, which has been suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic, services the city and North Adelaide.
This service costs about $2 million a year to operate, which is shared equally between the State Government and council.
The council had earlier this year discussed free public transport in the CBD with the South Australian Public Transport Authority, but the idea was knocked back. Last week, the State Government increased the price of a single ride ticket from $5.60 to $5.70, under new fees and charges
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said free transport was an idea “seriously worth considering”.
Mr Knoll said his father’s proposal would be considered “ in due course”.
“However we already provide free tram services and some free bus services in and around the CBD,” Mr Knoll said.
