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Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc. |
BUS PASSENGERS GO BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS
There have been some wins and losses for inner city bus passengers.
In response to my calls and a strong community campaign, the former Minister for Transport and Roads agreed to a transport audit for Walsh Bay, due this month. I hope that this audit will show the need for bus services for residents, visitors, businesses, and cultural organisations in this precinct, and thank the residents and business operators who contacted the Minister and collected signatures on my petitions.
However, the Minister did not agree to consider bus services between Paddington Fiveways and Edgecliff interchange. He claimed that the 389 bus service is enough, and says it runs to timetable. In response to my Parliamentary Question, the Minister said 56,000 passengers use the 389 bus each week, with less than one person per week complaining about 389 buses not stopping.
More peak 389 services were added in April 2009, but residents tell me that buses are often full by the time they reach the Fiveways, or are running late, with several buses clustered together. I have asked the Minister what can be done to prevent this clustering.
The former Minister remained unresponsive to community needs on the 311 bus route, and I will meet with the new Minister for Transport to again argue for returning this route to the Circular Quay terminus, retaining the Elizabeth Bay loop, sorting out problems at the Crown/ William Street intersection and using smaller buses that can negotiate narrower inner city streets.
I urge passengers to report to the 131500 Transport Infoline when your bus is full or late, so that these problems are recorded.
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