Manly: On-demand shuttle bus trial ends, leaving commuters stranded
Commuters say they will struggle to get to work when an on-demand shuttle bus trial finishes, as MP James Griffin promises change.
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An experimental on demand shuttle bus which was trialling in the Manly area will cease next week.
Ride Plus On Demand Transport has been running for 18 months.
Customers were able to book their trip via an app to go to one of several set points, including Manly Wharf, several B-Line bus stops and schools. However, the operation will finish from 2pm on May 24.
Residents in Balgowlah Heights voiced their disappointment on social media this week.
Ingrid Laurence, 51, and a mother of two teenage boys, said public transport in the suburb was “woeful”.
“This service was excellent, well used during peak hour, but has been very poorly promoted,” she said.
Ms Laurence said as a city commuter there was no reliable way for her to get to the wharf in time for her ferry, as the bus service was often late.
She said she did not know how she was going to get to the wharf.
She urged people to lobby Manly MP James Griffin to get the service reinstated.
Mr Griffin told the Manly Daily the data revealed that the service was mostly used by residents in Balgowlah Heights and Clontarf which showed there was a need.
He promised to use the data to lobby for better public transport.
“I have commenced working with Transport for NSW for a permanent solution, including the possibility of a future, permanent on demand service for Manly,” he said.
“I will get on as quickly as possible and deliver something there.”
Transport for NSW has been trialling a range of on demand models across Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra and said it had collected enough data.
Ride Plus began in November 2017 in Manly.
The model was reviewed and restructured in August 2018 to expand the service area to Dee Why, Manly Vale, North Balgowlah and Seaforth.
The Keoride on demand service which connects custmers from Palm Beach to North Narrabeen to B-Line bus stops will continue as normal.
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