Kinetic builds travel confidence for all-abilities students

Students at Pines Learning in Melbourne's east built their confidence on public transport at Kinetic's latest 'Try Before you Ride' event.

Students with a range of accessibility needs joined a session on best practices for catching the bus, gaining practical tips to help them feel more comfortable and confident using public transport.

The session included a short, guided tour around Doncaster East on board a Kinetic bus, allowing the students to explore the bus in a supportive environment.

"The session focused on building confidence when catching a Melbourne public bus, sharing practical tips and tricks, and helping remove some of the uncertainty that can come with using public transport," said Customer Experience Manager Brendan Watts, who hosted the event.

"I look forward to more opportunities to support confident and inclusive travel in our communities."

Many Pines Learning students commute to classes on public transport, but some had never caught a bus before.

"I travel by train but not by bus, because I have never had someone try it with me," said Charlie, a student who took part in the event.

"It was my first time on a bus ever."

Tom, another student, felt more confident after the presentation.

"Advice about wearing bright colours and not standing at the edge of a bus shelter is simple when you know what the bus drivers can see,” he said.

After the event, several participants said they planned to take a bus trip using everything they had learnt.

The 'Try Before you Ride' event forms part of Kinetic's broader commitment to making public transport more accessible and inclusive for all passengers, and marks Kinetic’s first collaboration with students at Pines Learning Centre.

With the belief that public transport only works when it works for everyone, programs like ‘Try Before You Ride’ are part of Kinetic’s push to build a network that’s genuinely inclusive, not just technically accessible.

The programs sit as a key part of Kinetic’s Accessibility Action Plan, which brings together improved communication, stronger community partnerships, enhanced staff capability, and lived experience of community members to drive more inclusive, confident travel.