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Free b (Welsh: Bws am ddim Free bus) was a zero-fare shuttle bus that operated in Cardiff city centre, Wales. The route circled the edges of the city centre anti-clockwise. The service was operated by Cardiff Bus.
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| Founded | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Leckwith, Cardiff (Cardiff Bus HQ) |
| Locale | Cardiff |
| Service area | Cardiff city centre Cardiff civic centre |
| Service type | Zero-Fare Bus |
| Hubs | Cardiff Central bus station |
| Operator | Cardiff Bus |
| Website | Free b website |
History
editThe service commenced on 12 October 2009[1] as a response to the creation of a "bus box" in Cardiff city centre. This was formed from the diversion of the terminus of many of Cardiff Bus's services from the Central Bus Station to stops around the edges of the city centre. The shuttle service was introduced to connect these stops, as well as those of Cardiff's four Park and Ride services.[2]
The three 28-seater buses in a yellow and black livery were introduced as part of a multimillion-pound joint council and Assembly Government-funded green initiative designed to encourage sustainable transport.[3]
Cardiff Council announced that because of low ridership, the Free b bus would be cancelled and replaced with an electric shuttle van.[4] Council-operated electric buggies were introduced in October 2010 in order to carry disabled and elderly passengers around the city centre.[5]
Operation
edit
The Free b service followed a circular route that travels anti-clockwise around the city centre linking major bus and rail interchanges. The FreeB operated every 10 minutes until 20:00 on weekdays and until 18:00 on the weekend.[6]
- Stops
- Churchill Way - for Cardiff Queen Street railway station and Capitol Shopping Centre
- Windsor Lane
- Greyfriars Road for New Theatre
- Greyfriars Road - for Hilton Hotel, Queens Arcade, Capital Tower, City Hall and National Museum
- Castle Street - for Cardiff Castle
- Westgate Street - for Millennium Stadium
- St Mary Street - for St David's Hall
- Cardiff Central bus station (stand D1A) - for Cardiff Central railway station and Millennium Stadium
- Wyndham Arcade - for Hard Rock Café
- Canal Street - for Marriott Hotel, The Hayes, St David's and Cardiff Central Library
- David Street - for Cardiff International Arena
Criticism
editThe service had been criticised as not running until late enough and a lack of publicity.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Traveline-Cymru News
- ^ News at VisitCardiff.com[permanent dead link]
- ^ Article
- ^ Guardian 12/5/10, "Free 'b' bus to be discontinued"
- ^ Guardian Cardiff | New city centre electric buggies launch
- ^ "Timetable". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ Article: "Prime-Minister Petitioned to Help Cardiff Buses"