GO GEORGE celebrates nine years of service to the community
The Rosemoor route was one of the first to roll out in December 2014. Today, 34 bus routes serve communities all over town over a distance of 145 km.
Celebrating nine years of service to the community of George, there is an extra bounce in the step of all GO GEORGE stakeholders this year, sparked by the long-awaited addition of Thembalethu to the list of communities that can enjoy the service.
Nine years ago on 8 December 2014, the bus service rolled out four routes with 14 beautiful buses that caught the eye and made residents’ hearts beat proudly as the long, shiny bodies drove down the streets of George. Eight months later, 35 minibuses with hydraulic hoists for wheelchairs were added to the fleet. The minibuses were designed and built especially for GO GEORGE and remain the only public service minibuses in South Africa that have this feature.
Today the bus service is operated over 145 km on 34 routes with 54 standard buses, 33 midibuses and 35 minibuses traversing the streets of George and enabling residents to travel to work and school as well as to medical and community services and shops throughout town. A total of 97 buses are operational during peak hours, with a specified number of backup buses and buses undergoing routine maintenance or repairs at the depot.
Gradual roll-out to Thembalethu
The service to Thembalethu is being rolled out gradually to accommodate the traffic challenges on the Thembalethu/N2 bridge. The first route, between Thembalethu and Blanco, was introduced on 5 November and was welcomed with great excitement and gratitude by the residents of Thembalethu. Altogether 30 028 trips were undertaken on this route in November alone.
Announcements about which routes come next will be made when the construction work on the bridge and other factors allow.
“We are very proud of everything we have achieved thus far,” says GO GEORGE Acting Manager, Morné Lakay. “But this year, we are mostly grateful to have rolled out to Thembalethu. Even though we activated only one route, the Thembalethu residents now believe that we are determined to include them in the benefits offered by this affordable, scheduled transport service.”
More people travel by bus
Aside from the expansion to Thembalethu, it is clear that people increasingly choose the bus service as their means of transport.
Last year, GO GEORGE carried 41 581 passengers during Black Friday weekend. This year, the weekend saw 43 998 boardings. The average weekday trips have also increased over the past year, from 17 635 in November 2022 to 19 979 last month – an increase of more than 2 000 trips per day.
“This trend is gratifying since, besides offering benefits to our passengers, public transport also aims to alleviate the impact of toxic exhaust fumes on the environment. When we encourage George residents to make use of the bus service – even if they own a car – we explain this as the environmentally friendly choice,” Lakay said.
For more information about the bus service, the GO GEORGE Call Centre is operational from 05:00 until 20:00, seven days a week, and can be called toll-free on 0800 044 044.
GO GEORGE vier nege jaar diens aan die gemeenskap
Met die viering van nege jaar se diens aan die gemeenskap van George is daar vanjaar ‘n ekstra huppel in die stap van alle belanghebbendes by GO GEORGE, aangevuur deur die langverwagte byvoeging van Thembalethu op die lys van gemeenskappe wat die voordeel van die busdiens kan geniet.
Nege jaar gelede op 8 Desember 2014 het die busdiens vier roetes uitgerol met 14 pragtige busse wat oë laat rek en harte trots laat klop het wanneer die lang, blink lywe in die strate van George afry. Agt maande later is 35 minibusse met hidrouliese hystoestelle vir rolstoele by die vloot gevoeg. Die minibusse is spesiaal vir GO GEORGE ontwerp en gebou en is steeds die enigste minibusse in openbare diens in Suid-Afrika wat oor hierdie fasiliteit beskik.
Vandag word die busdiens oor 145 km op 34 roetes bedryf met 54 standaardbusse, 33 midibusse en 35 minibusse wat die strate van George deurkruis en inwoners in staat stel om werk en skool toe as ook na mediese- en gemeenskapsdienste en winkels oral in die dorp te ry. Altesame 97 busse is in bedryf tydens spitstye, met ’n bepaalde aantal rugsteunbusse en busse wat roetine-onderhoud of herstelwerk ondergaan in die depot.
Geleidelike uitrol na Thembalethu
Die diens na Thembalethu word geleidelik uitgerol om die verkeersuitdagings op die Thembalethu/N2-brug te akkommodeer. Die eerste roete, tussen Thembalethu en Blanco, is op 5 November geaktiveer en is met groot opgewondenheid en dankbaarheid deur die inwoners van Thembalethu verwelkom. Altesaam 30 028 ritte is net in November op dié roete onderneem.
Aankondigings oor watter roete(s) volgende aan die beurt kom, sal gemaak word wanneer die konstruksiewerk op die brug en ander faktore dit toelaat.
“Ons is baie trots op alles wat ons tot dusver bereik het,” sê GO GEORGE se waarnemende bestuurder, Morné Lakay. “Maar vanjaar is ons grotendeels dankbaar dat ons na Thembalethu kon uitrol. Al het ons net een roete geaktiveer, glo die Thembalethu-inwoners nou dat ons vasbeslote is om hulle in te sluit by die voordele wat hierdie bekostigbare, geskeduleerde vervoerdiens bied.”
Al hoe meer mense ry bus
Afgesien van die uitbreiding na Thembalethu, is dit duidelik dat mense toenemend die busdiens as hul vervoermiddel kies.
Verlede jaar het GO GEORGE 41 581 passasiers tydens Swart Vrydag-naweek vervoer. Vanjaar is daar oor dié naweek 43 998 ritte onderneem. Die gemiddelde ritte per weeksdag het ook die afgelope jaar toegeneem, van 17 635 in November 2022 tot 19 979 verlede maand – ‘n toename van meer as 2 000 ritte per dag.
“Hierdie tendens is verblydend aangesien openbare vervoer – tesame met die voordele aan ons passasiers – ook daarop gemik is om die impak van giftige uitlaatgasse op die omgewing te verlig. Wanneer ons inwoners van George aanmoedig om van die busdiens gebruik te maak – selfs al besit hulle ‘n motor – verduidelik ons dit as die omgewingsvriendelike keuse,” het Lakay gesê.
Vir meer inligting oor die busdiens kan die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum tolvry geskakel word op 0800 044 044, met agente aan diens van 05:00 tot 20:00, sewe dae per week.
ONDERSKRIF:
Die Rosemoor-roete was een van die eerstes wat in Desember 2014 uitgerol is. Vandag is daar 34 busroetes wat gemeenskappe regoor die dorp oor ’n afstand van 145 km bedien.