Getting Around Canberra: By bus

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ACTION buses www.action.act.gov.au cover the majority of Canberra. As of March 2009, fares are $3 for adults and $1.50 for concessions (have your student or concession card ready to show the driver; for international students, it's always good to have an ISIC Card because many drivers -- although not strictly supposed to -- will accept these). There are also all-day, weekly monthly and 10-ride-faresaver tickets available. An off-peak all-day ticket costs $4.10 and is valid for travel on weekdays between 9AM & 4.30PM and after 6PM, as well as all day on weekends and holidays. 10 ride faresavers offer a significant discount on single fares at $8.20 for students (school term weekdays only) $11 concession and $22 for adults.

There has been increasing criticism of ACTION, as services have decreased in number and prices have increased. Some residents will tell you not to use ACTION services. During peak hours, ACTION buses, especially inter-town routes, can be extremely crowded. However, for those dependent on public transport there is no other option within Canberra. Note that the inter-town services are very frequent and reliable, especially during peak hour.

Tips for riding the buses:

• If you need to change buses to get somewhere, ask for a transfer ticket; it'll let you on to as many buses as you need within 90 minutes of getting on the first bus.
• Tell the driver where you need to get to (and how quickly if that's important) and ask them what your options are. Some buses snake through the suburbs and can take a while to cover a relatively short distance while others may be more direct or express services.
• To travel between the interchanges (i.e. Belconnen, Civic, Woden and Tuggeranong) catch any bus in the 300 series (300, 312, 313, 314, 315, 318 or 319) as these are far quicker then other bus with your intended location as its destination. Note that this service runs as Route 900 on Weekends and Public Holidays.
• Buses do not operate between midnight and 6AM, and after 7PM on Sundays and public holidays. There is however a 'flexibus' or 'nightrider' system with certain routes running at these times -- for a flat fare of $10 -- that operates on weekends in early summer, but not throughout the year.
• Many buses have a push-bike rack on the front, and the passenger can put the bike there to get to another bike-friendly destination.

• www.action.act.gov.au