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Feeling the pinch at the bowser? You're certainly not alone. With petrol prices skyrocketing across the country (and in some areas, drying up entirely), taking public transport has never looked more appealing.
In an effort to ease the pressure at the pump, the Victorian Government has just announced that all public transport will be free across Victoria for a month, starting on Tuesday, March 31.
That's right – until Thursday, April 30, all commuters will be able to travel across Victoria's trains (both metro and V/Line), trams and buses every single day without having to tap on their Myki. Instead, all Myki gates will be open to allow for easy and streamlined access to stations and platforms.
Don't worry if you accidentally touch on though – any charges that do incidentally occur will be fully refunded. And anyone with a Myki pass (like a yearly) will have their account paused until the end of April. For those travelling on V/Line coaches outside of the Myki network, a ticket will need to be booked to secure your seat, but it will still be free.
This temporary measure is expected to make it more enticing for people to choose public transport, and help those who have to drive by getting more cars off the road and alleviate demand at petrol stations. While it's expected that Victoria's public transport network will experience an influx in commuters, the opening of the Metro Tunnel and addition of extra services should ensure there are no major disruptions.
“This is a temporary measure to help with the cost of living – it will take pressure off the pump and help you save,” said Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan. “This won’t solve every problem, but it’s an immediate step to help Victorians right now while we keep working on new solutions to make Victoria more affordable.”
For more information and to plan your journey, visit the Transport Victoria website.
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