Bluffton to celebrate Car-Free Day with free bus rides, new stops and Fresh Market shuttle
Bluffton residents will have a chance to leave their cars at home and hop on public transit for free as part of an international movement promoting safer, less congested communities.
On Monday, Sept. 22nd, the Bluffton Breeze will mark World Car Free Day nwith free rides all day across its routes in Bluffton and Okatie. The celebration, branded locally as Bluffton Car Free Day, is organized by Palmetto Breeze, the operating name of the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority.
passengers on each bus who leave their vehicles parked and ride the Breeze will receive a Transit Tote valued at $25.
“The Bluffton Breeze gives our community a safe, reliable, and affordable way to get around while easing traffic on Bluffton’s busy roadways,” said Brian Sullivan, executive director of Palmetto Breeze. “Bluffton Car Free Day is the perfect chance to give the Breeze a try and see just how easy it is to ride.”
The event coincides with the launch of several new stops aimed at making the nbus more convenient. Riders can now ncatch the Breeze at:
• Bluffton Library, accessible at Johnson Way and Palmetto Way.
• Bluffton Post Office, 25 Thurmond Way.
• Greater Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine, near 29 Plantation Park Drive.
The additions are part of Palmetto Breeze’s broader effort to expand access in Bluffton, where rapid population growth has led to heavier traffic and limited parking in popular areas.
This fall, the Breeze is also resuming a seasonal service tied to one of Bluffton’s best-known weekly traditions. From September through May, a Thursday Fresh Market Shuttle will run from noon to 4 p.m., carrying passengers for free between the Walmart Bluffton parking lot and the Bluffton Farmers Market at Martin Family Park.
Officials say the shuttle not only eases parking congestion in Bluffton’s historic district but also helps support local farmers and vendors by making the market more accessible.
The Bluffton Breeze operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. yearround, with more than 60 stops across Bluffton and Okatie. All buses are fully accessible and equipped with wheelchair lifts and bicycle racks.
Route maps and schedules are available at www.breezebluffton.com
