THERE is a proposal to offer free bus travel in Dunfermline on Mother's Day and the Easter Weekend.
If approved it will run on March 10, 30 and 31 and cost around £18,000.
A report will go to the City of Dunfermline area committee on Tuesday and councillors are set to back the initiative, with the money coming from the devolved parking budget.
Cllr James Calder, the committee convener, said: "I’m really excited by the proposed free bus travel initiative.
"In the past we used this budget for free Sunday parking on certain days but we hope using it for free bus travel will encourage more to take environmentally friendly travel in Dunfermline instead.
"It also ensures that those who don't have cars or drive can benefit.
"Finally we are providing this funding for a few strategic days so it will hopefully give local businesses a boost by encouraging more to come into our local shops and restaurants."
READ MORE: Parking income from Dunfermline last year was over £920k
From the money brought in from parking each year, the council splits £100,000 between the seven area committees.
Dunfermline's share of the devolved parking budget is £18,000.
They've tried initiatives before to try and boost footfall in the city centre but admitted the results were "inconclusive" but did offer "welcome support to the city centre during this challenging period".
In 2019 the council paid for a free shuttle bus service from Leys Park Road to the city centre at weekends over the festive period.
In Covid times free Sunday parking was offered from January to March 2020 and November 2020 to February 2021, they also tried it on March 5, 12, 19 and 26 last year.
In his report to the committee John Mitchell, the head of roads and transportation, said: "The committee wish to investigate the potential to offer free bus travel for everyone visiting the city on March 10, 30 and 31 as an alternative to the previous free parking initiatives.
"Encouraging people to travel to the city centre using sustainable transport will support households in more deprived areas, who are less likely to have access to a car, and support a reduction in carbon emissions."
The council will have to give Stagecoach a month's notice to allow them time to set up "necessary procedures".
Mr Robertson added: "The initiative will only cover journeys made on Stagecoach services within the ‘Dunfermline zone’ area, this includes an array of local and express services."
"Bus routes in this zone are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4B, 5, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 19, 28, 31, 33, 84, 88, 88A, 89, 747, AZ1, X24, X27, X51, X52, X54, X55, X56, X58, X59, X60, X61.
"The initiative is not applicable on journeys outwith or beyond the Dunfermline zone.
"Concessionary bus passes will operate as normal."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here