Greenlink Partnering with iMAGINE Upstate & Ten at the Top to Offer Fare Free Day
Greenlink is partnering with iMAGINE Upstate and Ten at the Top to offer Fare Free Day on Saturday, April 7. Fare Free Day is designed to coincide with the fourth annual iMAGINE Upstate Festival fueled by ScanSource, which showcases science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) learning experiences for youth and families. The festival will take place on April 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the West End and at Fluor Field in downtown Greenville.
Ten at the Top is the festival’s transportation partner, and its sponsorship of Fare Free Day will allow Greenlink to provide free service for all passengers on all fixed bus routes on April 7. According to Nicole McAden, Greenlink’s marketing and public affairs specialist, the partnership between iMAGINE Upstate fueled by ScanSource and Ten at the Top is a great example of how public transportation can play a role within the community. “Opportunities like Fare Free Day provide an incentive for first-time riders or riders who otherwise may be hesitant to use public transportation,” said McAden. “Also, by partnering with large attractions such as downtown festivals, we’re able to demonstrate how public transportation can help address issues such as traffic congestion and parking.”
According to iMAGINE Upstate event director Melissa Huff, the 2017 festival attracted more than 12,000 attendees with exhibits provided by over 70 organizations, which was the second year the Fare Free Day was sponsored. According to McAden, there was a 79% increase in Greenlink ridership on the day of the festival in 2017. Huff believes that this bump in ridership is helping increase festival attendance and diversify its audience. “In order to reach more children, we need to make the festival accessible for families who may not otherwise be able to commute to downtown Greenville,” said Huff. “If we can provide transportation options, then more families will get to have this experience and learn about the educational opportunities highlighted throughout the festival.”
Greenlink passengers and festival attendees can use the Google Transit application at www.ridegreenlink.com to plan their free trips on April 7. Additionally, Greenlink customers can now track the bus and get arrival times on the FindGreenlink app. More information about iMAGINE Upstate fueled by ScanSource is available at www.imagineupstate.org.