The Strætó public bus network unveiled its first electric bus after its annual meeting at Reykjavík City Hall today, Vísir reports. The bus is one of 14 that have been purchased and will soon be introduced to the municipal public transportation system. According to Strætó chairman Heiða Björg Hilmarsdóttir, these electric buses will reduce greenhouse emissions by 1,450 metric tons a year.
Strætó has unveiled several major new initiatives this year, such as night bus service and allowing domestic pets to ride on public buses. These changes are aimed, among other things, at increasing ridership in the capital area.
Strætó representatives say that initiatives aimed at increasing the number of passengers using public transportation have been successful thus far, although surveys about regular ridership have perhaps, not entirely reflected this. According to an ongoing survey of transportation habits that the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration has conducted since 2017, only 4% of all travel in the capital area is done via bus. This is the same percentage as was found in 2013. Nevertheless, according to passenger counts and surveys conducted by Gallup, the number of bus riders has increased considerably over the last four years, and 7% of capital area residents now own a Strætó card.
