French free fares boost Breton city centre shopping

摘要

Keolis-run Quimper Bus in the Brittany region of western France is offering free travel on Saturday mornings in a bid to make city centre shopping more attractive. Since September, when free travel became available from 06.00 to 13.00, monthly ridership on eight routes has doubled and 4,000 free tickets are being issued daily. The local authority is paying an annual €95,000 (£75,000) to finance the free buses. Quimper council introduced free city centre parking from 17.00 to 18.30 on weekdays in May. 'Both measures have had a big impact on making city shopping more attractive,' says deputy transport head Andre Guenegan.