Brisbane’s Maroon CityGlider has celebrated its 10th birthday in style, with passenger numbers exceeding 11 million trips since it was launched by Council in 2013.
Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner said the service had been a welcome addition to some of Brisbane’s most popular entertainment precincts.
“We introduced the Maroon CityGlider 2013 to connect major sport and shopping hubs between Ashgrove and Coorparoo such as Suncorp Stadium and Caxton Street, The Gabba and Coorparoo Square entertainment precinct,” he said.
“Since then, it’s become one of our most popular services more than 3.5 million people jumping on board in the past five years alone.
“The frequency of our Gliders means you never have to wait long to jump on, with the service also operating longer hours than most regular routes.
“As Brisbane’s global reputation grows, this is the kind of service we want commuters to experience when they’re hopping between our world class dining, shopping and sporting precincts.”
Patronage statistics supplied by Translink indicate numbers are getting close to pre-COVID levels, the Lord Mayor said.
The Maroon Glider regularly carries more than 100,000 passengers every month, with numbers hitting 108,039 in March 2023, 10 years after the service was launched.
The Blue CityGlider that services the inner city and surrounds both North and South of the river also continues to be popular with residents and tourists alike, having moved more than 7.5 million passengers over the past five years.
Lord Mayor Schrinner said Council was working proactively with the State Government to implement a Gold CityGlider to connects the fast-growing areas of Hamilton and Woolloongabba.
“The Gold CityGlider will not only link key venues for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also some of the fastest growing residential areas in our city.”
“We are currently in discussions with the State Government to see how we can make this a reality for local residents and visitors,” he said.
The Council, Queensland Government and Redland City Council are also investigating opportunities to expand the project east along the Old Cleveland Road corridor.
The study will investigate options for extending the existing busway to the Capalaba business district, the Lord Mayor said.
“Studies like this pave the way for future expansions of the Metro to other connection hubs like the Airport and Brisbane’s northern suburbs.”
“The Eastern Metro Study is just one of the many examples of the kind of city shaping projects that are possible when different levels of government work together,” he said.
Bus travel continues to be the go-to public transport method in Brisbane, with route 66 coming out on top with over 1.8 million passengers in the 22/23 financial year alone.
As patronage nears pre-COVID levels, Transport Chair, Councillor Murphy put the call out for more drivers to join their staff of more than 2500 bus operators.
“We’ve seen an increase in demand for more flexible work options and, given we provide services between 22 and 24 hours a day, our bus drivers have hundreds of shifts available to suit their schedules,” Cr Murphy said.
“Our casual staff choose the hours and days they want to work, and our drivers can make a decent wage working part time or full time with Council.”
Bus driver Leisa Hassall left her hospitality role in 2022 to become a Council driver and hasn’t looked back since.
“My experience so far has been great, there is always something going on in Brisbane,” Ms Hassall said.
“The city is alive and thriving. Everyday on the road is a new and different day. It’s a bit like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get!”
Those looking to find their closest bus service, or who are interested in becoming a bus driver can apply via www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
