00:04A free ride for another month.
00:06This is all about giving Victorians more options to leave the car at home or to reduce their
00:11reliance on the car.
00:13The scheme was due to finish at the end of this month but transport will now be free
00:17until the end of May in an attempt by the government to relieve pain at the bowser.
00:22Half price fares will follow for the rest of the year.
00:25Great idea, it's going to hopefully get some people off the roads and save some people
00:30money.
00:30Any saving is a good saving for us.
00:32This is nice and all but it's not going to help with the cost of living.
00:34We need to see a comprehensive plan to reduce cost of living right across the board.
00:38The extra month of free transport will save a full time commuter more than $200, while
00:44half price fares from June will save full time commuters $850 over seven months.
00:51It will cost the government more than $400 million in lost fare revenue.
00:56With no one tapping on, the extra month of free transport will delay the government's
01:00contactless ticketing trial.
01:02But it remains on track and Conduant continue their busy work behind the scenes.
01:07According to a study from the University of Melbourne, there's been a 26 per cent increase
01:12in passengers using public transport since it became free.
01:15But researchers say NSW has also had a similar increase without free fares, which they say
01:21shows the incentive is likely doing little to reduce demand for fuel.
01:25We do not have any evidence to suggest that this has made a dramatic difference.
01:31The Public Transport Users Association says V-Line trains have been overcrowded since the free
01:36transport scheme began, particularly on public holidays and weekends.
01:40But despite calls for the government to put more services on, there are no plans to do
01:45so.
01:46Our system is responding well and strongly.
01:50Regardless, it's all aboard until the end of May.
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