The municipality of Kobarid has decided to connect the town with main tourist attractions and starting points of popular hiking destinations through a hop-on hop-off bus connection. Additionally, the bus will provide the elderly population living in the countryside with better access to public services in the town. The new transport option is part of a pilot project called Sustainable Mobility in the Kobarid Municipality, within which the so-called Green House has also been established, hosting an info point on relevant information related to various public and other environmentally friendly means of transport.

Bus will operate on 5 routes
The hop-on hop-off bus will operate on five route, explains Simon Škvor, head of the municipal corporation, which reserved EUR 20,000 in its budget for this purpose. According to Škvor, "there will be no need to order the transport. A preliminary schedule has been made. The bus will run twice daily, which means that in the early morning the passengers will be able to reach starting points for trips to the mountains: the easier trail of Mount Krn, from the Kuhinja plateau, also to Mount Matajur. The bus will stop at all bathing spots along the Nadiža River, and will connect places with cultural heritage: the museum at Vrsno, i.e. the birthplace of poet Simon Gregorčič, the old village centre at Breginj and other villages such as Robidišče, the regions of Livško and Drežniško etc."

One euro for full day ticket
The full day ticket, which includes unlimited all-day use of the bus, will cost one euro, while children under the age of 11 and bicycles will have free transport.

A Swiss tourist welcomes the initiative: "I think it's a good idea, one that is worth trying. In the Alps, for example – also in Switzerland, where I come from – we have very good experience with this. It works well, there's less traffic, and it's better for the tourists."

However, Škvor adds: "It needs to be emphasized that this is a pilot project, which means that during its operation simultaneous analysis and evaluation will take place."

Future plans of Kobarid for this type of transport include connections with the municipalities of Bovec and Tolmin. Later on, the entire Slovenian territory of the Julian Alps could be brought together in this way.

Mariša Bizjak, Radio Koper; translated by K. Z.