News & Events: Press Releases
September 5, 2008
Beach Weekend Ridership Sees Boost
Riders Flip Flop Aboard the Pier Park Express During Labor Day Weekend
Media Contact: Allison Fogt
850-878-5531 x223
afogt@kidd.com
(Panama City, Fla.) - A special ‘Flip Flop Drop Off’ on the beach Labor Day Weekend led to a dramatic increase in ridership on Bay Town Trolley’s weekend beach route, the Pier Park Express. With a total of 713 rides, this past weekend proved to be the best ever in the two and a half months that the Pier Park Express has been operating.
Trolley officials met with Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst this past Saturday as flip flops were strategically placed at public beach entrances. The flip flops were there to urge beach goers to take a pair and flip flop aboard the Pier Park Express.
“Just as flip flops and the beach go hand in hand, we also want to make sure that the trolley is at the top of people’s minds when they visit the beach,” said Beth Coulliette, Bay Town Trolley’s executive director. “Our weekend beach route is the perfect option for people who don’t want to deal with parking, but would still like to enjoy a full day at the beach, shopping and going to various attractions.”
Despite recent storms in the Panama City Beach area, overall ridership on the Pier Park Express is up from June and July. August totals came in at 2,614, a 69 percent increase from July’s 1,544 rides on the weekend beach route.
“We’re going to continue this momentum throughout September encouraging residents and tourists to Flip Flop Aboard the Pier Park Express, Bay Town Trolley’s weekend beach route,” said Lee Bragg, Bay Town Trolley’s general manager. “Even with school back in session, a weekend at the beach is the perfect mini vacation.”
In conjunction with the trolley’s flip flop promotion, local artist Helen Stackhouse will take part in the beach route initiative by painting acrylic artwork on the trolley windows that mirror both the beach atmosphere and the shops at Pier Park. Stackhouse’s work will premier on the Pier Park Express the weekend of September 12, 2008.
For the past 12 years Bay Town Trolley has provided public transportation services to Bay County with the mission of moving riders of Bay County with clean, safe, efficient and dependable transportation while enhancing the quality of life and meeting the growing needs of the community. The system operates Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. The Pier Park Express, Bay Town Trolley’s weekend beach route runs Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – midnight. For information on all routes, fares, Ride On Commuter Services and other news and updates log on to www.BayTownTrolley.org.
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