‘Everyone f****** hates it’: Main Beach business owner on driverless bus trial

Gold Coast residents have had their say on the new driverless bus trial at Main Beach, fearing it will mean less jobs for locals. THE VERDICT

Main Beach’s cutting edge driverless bus trial has been slammed by business owners and Gold Coast residents, despite Mayor Tom Tate backing the trial.

While the concept seems cool and futuristic, it has been labelled a “suicide coffin” and blamed for limiting trade at local businesses.

Bulletin reader Sarah Caitlin said she wasn’t a fan. “yes, (let’s) just make less jobs for people,” she wrote.

Sagrav Bor agreed, saying: “Driverless transport jobless people.”

Reader Peter Kairouz added: “Politicians love to waste taxpayers money. They should be held to account.”

Main Beach Bakery owner Wayne McCrae said the Gold Coast Smart Shuttle trial had been a “total disaster” and that “everyone f****** hates it.”

The Gold Coast Smart Shuttle trial has infuriated a Main Beach business owner. Picture: Supplied

“The thing goes four to five kilometres an hour and has been holding up traffic all week,” he said.

“I don’t know why it has slow vehicle written on it we clearly don’t need it in writing.

“Everyone is standing out on Tedder Ave shaking their heads at it. There’s a few business owners that have called it ‘Tom Tate’s coach to nowhere’.”

Mr McCrae said the bus had also been called “the suicide coffin” over an apparent incident where the vehicle failed to come to a stop.

However, an RACQ spokesperson dismissed claims the vehicle failed to come to a stop and said they were “completely inaccurate”.

But that’s not the first bee in Mr McCrae’s bonnet.

Earlier this month, he expressed anger over the loss of parking spaces out the front of his business, for what he called a “pointless” service.

Council told the business owner two 15-minute parking spaces would be replaced to make room for the driverless bus shuttle stop.

Mr McCrae was already up in arms over the lack of parking for his customers. Picture Glenn Hampson

“If this is the Mayor’s reveal for the latest and greatest technology, it’s about time he hung up his spurs,” Mr McCrae said.

However, Division 10 councillor Darren Taylor said the trial was a “great opportunity for the city.”

“We are providing trials for a service that could positively impact the future of transportation in our city,” he said.

“Obviously there will be some challenges but now is the time to iron out any teething problems ahead of the launch in January 2022.”

Cr Taylor said an additional seven parking spaces would be provided along Tedder Ave to alleviate parking concerns.

He said early trial phases meant the bus would operate at a slower speed while mapping, with top speeds reaching 19 kilometres per hour once the bus was in operation.

Mayor Tom Tate said the driverless bus would be the first of many emerging transport technologies trialled on the Gold Coast.

“I’m excited for the trial as our new transport strategy will explore all forms of emerging technology as well as leading-edge transport modes. The existing strategy is under review – with that report due back at council in 2022,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is giddy over the future of transportation in our city. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“Future transport modes in our city will most likely see a continued uptake of e-cars as well as hydro buses, solar-powered public buses and autonomous buses.

“This trial is just that – a test run of this autonomous bus to see how it fits in as a potential future transport option.”

Mayor Tate said he was “pleased” to have added additional short-term parking spaces in the Tedder Ave precinct to “accommodate some business requests.”

“For now, let’s all get on board, literally, and back the trial over the next 12 months,” the Mayor said.

The Gold Coast Smart Shuttle Trial is a joint initiative between Gold Coast City Council and RACQ and is expected to launch in mid January, 2022.