School bus management: Regional Victoria public transport inquiry

Demand for school buses across rural areas to be used to stitch-up Victoria’s patchy regional public transport service.

Would you approve of a move to allow the public ride on school buses?

School buses could be become more readily available to the public to address serious gaps in the public transport system across regional Victoria.

But parents are being told they will be consulted first and that not every “Tom, Dick and Harry” will be allowed on the buses.

The Victorian Senate’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee is investigating the proposal with a report expected to be tabled later this year.

But the committee’s chair says parents will be listened to, with child safety to be a key consideration.

Under the inquiry’s terms of reference, the “spare capacity” of assets in the mainstream school bus program will be identified.

Costs, fares and potential social and community impacts also must be considered.

Bus Association Victoria executive director Chris Lowe backed the move, saying school buses should become inclusive rather than exclusive.

Dr Lowe said there were rural towns with extremely limited coach services that have school buses sitting idle for hours every day.

He said it easier for the public to use school buses and for extra services throughout the day, would provide an economic boost to regional areas such as Wycheproof and Manangatang.

“Freeing up the school bus network would give these people that are transport disadvantaged far more options to get around their community,” Dr Lowe said.

To alleviate safety concerns, Dr Lowe said cameras and GPS trackers should be installed on the buses.

He said the mechanisms for public to apply to ride on school buses was too complicated as it stands.

Dr Lowe said the aim should be a simpler approval process, potentially whereby passengers require sign-off from the bus operator and the school.

“What we’re not suggesting is that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can just turn up and get on the school bus,” he said.

Dr Lowe added that small towns taking part in the scheme were more likely to be places where “everybody knows everybody”.

Bus Association Victoria have produced a map detailing how it believed Victoria’s bus network would change if school buses are expanded in use.

Committee chair Enver Erdogan said the inquiry would look at the disadvantages experienced by rural and regional Victorians, particularly youth, the elderly and low-income households.

Mr Erdogan also encouraged parents to have their say.

“Input from parents will help guide this inquiry, particularly in relation to important issues such as child safety,” he said.

Submissions to the inquiry are open until June 25, with more information on the parliament website.