Brisbane's Bus Drivers Are Going on Strike — and Giving Everyone Free Rides

Brisbanites, if catching a bus is in your future on July 27 and 28, then we have good and bad news. The city's bus drivers are going on strike again. However, before they stop work, they'll also be refusing to collect fares for an entire day.

First, the good news. On Thursday, July 27, hopping on a Brisbane City Council bus service at any time throughout the day will cost you nothing. Translink, the Queensland Government body with responsibility for public transport, states that you should still swipe on and buy paper tickets from machines, but — according to the Rail, Tram and Bus Union — bus drivers on-board won't be taking your money or checking that you're using your Go Card.

Then, come Friday, you'll also be saved the cost of a bus fare between 2pm and 6pm — but for a completely different reason. That's when bus drivers will strike to end the working week, so you might want to make other plans for getting around town that afternoon.

The move is part of a continuing campaign by the RTBU's Queensland Branch for safer buses, a fair wage increase and modern rostering practices, and also marks the third day of industrial action in two weeks. If you were up early last Tuesday and Wednesday, you might've noticed that buses were absent from the roads between 4.30am and 6.30am — but given the peak-hour timing of the forthcoming strike, this one is bound to make a bigger impact.

Image: Andrew Thomas via Flickr.