Promoting Bus Use in Maastricht

I always get nervous when I see something in the mail from the Gemeente. I can’t read it right away, so I’m never sure if it could be something important (like an eviction notice or a gas explosion or aliens; my imagination gets away from me). Today’s mystery mailing is actually an effort to promote travel using the city’s Veolia bus system. In light of the popularity of Maastricht shopping and the immanent holiday season, that seems pretty sensible.
 
A Free Buslijnkaart
First on the docket is an apparently new bus line map that indicates all the routes and connections in Maastricht to make it easier for you to plan your trip on the fly. Those of you without smart-phones anyway. One was included in my letter. It didn’t indicate where you could find these maps, so I’m assuming they are on the buses themselves or available at the train station.
 
1 Euro Koopzondagretour Ticket
The second bit of bus news is the introduction of an experimental Sunday return ticket for shoppers on the first Sunday of each month (the only time the shops are open on Sundays). Starting on November 1st, shoppers can purchase a “Sunday Shopping Return” ticket on the bus for a 1 Euro return trip to anywhere in Maastricht. If I’m reading this correctly, you can purchase the ticket from your bus driver when you get on to head into town and then use it on the way home. Be sure to use the Dutch name: Koopzondagretour or, if you have trouble with pronunciation like I do, write it down for the driver. I believe this program will continue until July 4, 2010.
 
Disclaimer: My Dutch comprehension is the pits so I use Google Translate to muddle my way through. If you think I’ve gotten anything wrong please let me know.