The Great Freo Bus Rescue?

Innovative idea to get commuters into Freo on free Smartrider transit when Freo Traffic Bridge closes

The new Freo Mayor, Ben Lawver, still immediately recognisable in any setting around Freo with his shaggy hair and brown corduroy jacket, is both busily recovering from a bout of flu and advancing a great idea designed to help Fremantle commuters and traders through the feared doldrums when the Freo Traffic Bridge closes for a year in February.

Mayor Ben Lawver

The last thing Freo needs is for folk near and far to think the Bridge closure means Freo is also closed for business or for businesses to lose out on productivity while employees are stuck in traffic.

Mayor Ben has encouraged a group of his Freo Council colleagues to take the lead on bridge closure advocacy, with Crs Melanie Clarke, Ingrid van Dorssen and Jemima Williamson-Wong having met with Simone McGurk yesterday afternoon. They believe a plan for free smartrider transit for commuters and regular visitors to Freo not only makes sense but would ensure Freo is full of shop-paying customers in 2026, as well as posing an opportunity to incentivise modal shift onto public transport. This is a solution already tried and tested by the State Government when the Armadale Rail Line was shut down for works earlier this year.

The idea would incentivise those busing from the Freo burbs and also coming in from further afield. It would support commuters and visitors from Hilton, Beaconsfield, Leeming or Joondalup. It would support the many commuters trying to get in and out of Freo each day and send a message that Freo is both open for business and easy to get to – without cost.