Gold Coasters still using public transport notice ‘empty’ trams and buses

Gold Coasters often use public transport to get around the city but during COVID-19 it’s a whole new world.

FOR the past three years Josh Akehurst has used public transport to get around the Gold Coast, but he’s been riding with significantly fewer people lately.

Passenger numbers on Gold Coast public transport have dropped by up to 80 per cent over the past month because of health advice and a direction to avoid non-essential travel.

Mr Akehurst, 27, said he had noticed the difference on his daily tram commute to work in Surfer Paradise.

“The last three years I’ve caught a lot of public transport and there’s 100 per cent been less people recently,” the Broadbeach Waters resident said.

“The trams are pretty much empty, unlike when there used to be people needing to stand up because there was nowhere to sit.”

Josh Akehurst 27 from Broadbeach Waters gets off at the Light Rail station in Surfers Paradise. Picture Glenn Hampson

Peter Halstead uses the tram from his home in Southport to travel to the Cavill Ave light rail station to get his coffee and lunch most days.

The retiree said he had noticed a slight increase in people using public transport since COVID-19 restrictions eased last Friday.

“I like to come from Southport to Surfers Paradise for recreational purposes,” he said.

“I’ve been using public transport for 25 years and have never seen it so empty, however it has started to increase again now the regulations have eased up a bit.”

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Public Gold Coast public transport usage has dropped 80 per cent the last month with people taking on health advice. Picture Glenn Hampson

South American Edward Perez, 30, recently moved to Surfers Paradise from Brisbane and said he had been enjoying Gold Coast public transport a lot more.

“It’s my first week on the Gold Coast and it’s so different from Brisbane,” he said.

“In Brisbane I have to use a lot of buses but here it’s shorter so I don’t have to change over transport as much.

“Everyone is doing social distancing and I like that it is empty.”