Buses Boom As Patrons Leave Their Cars Behind

The Age

Wednesday November 12, 2008

Clay Lucas, Transport Reporter

BUSES, long the poor cousin in Melbourne's transport network, are booming, with new figures showing a 12% jump in patronage in the past year - the biggest increase in the city's history.

Eight million trips a month are now made on buses in Melbourne, up from 7 million trips a month last year.

The bus industry data, out today, shows that only 20% of Melbourne's population are within 400 metres of a train or tram.

The rest must rely on buses - most of which have an average peak-hour frequency of 35 to 40 minutes - if they want to use public transport.

The Bus Association of Victoria wants the Brumby Government, in a transport statement it will release next month, to pour money into new bus routes around Melbourne, particularly to growth suburbs and industrial areas.

Bus Association spokesman Chris Loader said there was ample evidence that drivers were leaving their cars at home because of rising petrol prices, and because of better frequencies on some bus routes.

The association wants to see the Government:

Boost bus services to better feed into the train network, to help alleviate massive pressure on parking at train stations. One in four bus trips in Melbourne involves a transfer to or from the train network.

Significantly upgrade bus services in the Doncaster corridor, in line with recommendations by Sir Rod Eddington in April.

Introduce bus services as residents move into new suburbs, so that households can avoid buying a second or third car.

Introduce buses into industrial areas that have little or no public transport, such as Laverton North, Altona, Tullamarine, Somerton and South Dandenong.

Accelerate the roll-out of the SmartBus network, including completion of the Government's five orbital routes by 2010 instead of 2012 as planned.

© 2008 The Age

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