Do we need a free bus to catch Mt Coot-tha sunsets?

Council’s free Mt Coot-tha bus shuttle is a great idea. But if you could use it to

David Tompkins and Denisse Ramos enjoy sunset at Mt Coot-tha. Picture: Tara Croser

Brisbane residents have backed an idea to extend Council’s free 480 shuttle bus service to include stops at trail heads around Mt Coot-tha.

State Greens MP for the area, Michael Berkman also called for more weekend 471 bus services, including later times so people could catch sunsets from the Summit.

The 480 service is a promise stemming from the now-canned zipline and runs from the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens to the Summit lookout.

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The $1.3 million per year service has reportedly had only low patronage since it started in December, although that might grow as word spread.

Mr Berkman said the bus could stop at the start of eight walking tracks on the mountain, but conceded a smaller bus would be needed to better negotiate the narrow, windy roads.

His Facebook post immediately gained traction, with some residents also suggesting the 480 should be connected to Toowong bus station so users did not need to drive to the Mt Coot-tha gardens to hop aboard.

“Equip it to take bikes. That would be popular,’’ Thea Blackler said.

Google Maps image of the 480 Council bus (route in purple) and trail heads around Mt Coot-tha.

Adrienne O’Donnell said on Facebook: I lookedinto it for visiting teenagers but as they still had to get to that point (the Botanic Gardens) by public transport it was of no use. A good idea in theory but needs expanding.’’

Monica Mugg-Ridge suggested making the mountain one-way for motorists and buses, making the remaining lane a dedicated cycle route.

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Mr Berkman said several residents, and a council bus driver, had told him the free 480 service was “almost always totally empty’’.

“Maybe that’s not so surprising, since it’s just two months old, but what if we could make it even better?’’ he said.

“Some locals have suggested it should be extended to travel around the mountain, dropping off hikers and day-trippers to the various trail heads and picnic grounds.’’

He said connections to major public transport hubs such as Toowong needed to also improve, with the 471 running only six times a day on the weekend, stopping at 5pm.

“That means you can’t even watch the sunset,’’ Mr Berkman said.

But Council said it had no plans to alter the route.

“Brisbane City Council has not received any feedback from residents about extending the free Mt Coot-tha bus shuttle’’, a spokeswoman said.

“Council currently has no plans to extend the service, but will continue to monitor patronage levels.’’