Bulleen state Liberal MP Matthew Guy calls for bike racks, better train connections for Manningham bus users
Former state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says Melbourne’s bus network is trumped by two other Australian cities, and it needs room for bikes and connect better with train services.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne might be more liveable, but Brisbane and Canberra have better bus networks, according to a Liberal MP who regularly uses public transport.
Bulleen state Liberal MP Matthew Guy says electric buses with room for bikes — he is a regular bike rider, too — and connectivity with train services would help ease congestion.
In particular, Mr Guy wants timetables altered so bus routes in Manningham, which includes his electorate, connect better with train services at six nearby railway stations — Heidelberg, Montmorency, Eltham, Blackburn, Mitcham and Box Hill.
Mr Guy said Brisbane’s bus network connected well with rail services, while Canberra’s buses were fitted with bike racks.
“I think Melbourne underestimates the importance of a good bus network,” he said.
“Brisbane and Canberra have exceptionally good bus networks … Brisbane in particular has a bus network that integrates with rail timetables.
“Labor has been in government for 16 of 20 years in Victoria, they can’t go blaming other people, they’ve had plenty of time to put in place an integrated bus timetable network.”
Mr Guy said he would raise his suggestions to improve Manningham’s bus network in state parliament next week.
MORE: FOUR EXTRA CITY-BOUND BUS SERVICES
CALLS FOR BUS OPERATOR PERFORMANCE STATS
BUSES FITTED WITH NEW SAFETY FEATURES
He said improved connectivity was important in efforts to tackle overcrowding on bus services throughout Manningham.
“I suspect most politicians that comment on buses around Melbourne don’t use them — I do,” Mr Guy said.
“In Manningham, it’s our only public transport unless you ride your bike.
“From first hand experience … the buses are very crowded, and therefore we need to look at better connectivity and integration to rail.”
Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne’s spokeswoman Hayley Bester said the government was already trialling an electric bus and could potentially roll them out statewide.
The electric bus is servicing Route 246 between Elsternwick and Clifton Hill.
Ms Bester also said the government altered bus timetables in 2018 to better connect with rail services at Eltham and Heidelberg stations.
“In the past six years we have adjusted dozens of bus routes to better connect people with trains and get them to where they need to go,” she said.
Ms Bester said the government had no plans to install bike racks on buses.
But Justin Rogers, spokesman for bus operator Transdev, said the Department Of Transport was porgressively rolling bike racks out and trialling them on bus routes throughout Victoria.
Mr Rogers said Transdev’s buses did not service any railway stations in Manningham.