Ride share companies filling gaps left by inadequate public transport services in outer Melbourne

Frustrated commuters are being let down by public transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, with many Melburnians forced to catch ride-share services to get home from the station.

A lack of bus services in Melbourne’s outer suburbs are forcing commuters to use ride share companies.

Frustrated commuters are being let down by public transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, with many Melburnians forced to catch ride-share services to get home from the station.

Data collected by ride-share giant Ola has revealed many of the city’s most popular pick-up and drop-off destinations are near railway stations in Melbourne’s outer ring.

49 PER CENT OF VICTORIANS DON'T CATCH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

PUBLIC TRANSPORT NOT KEEPING UP WITH POPULATION GROWTH

Commuters desperately need more bus services to match train timetables throughout Melbourne.

Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Williams Landing have become some of the company’s busiest spots as fed-up residents turn to private transport because of poor bus services.

Ola Australian managing director Simon Smith said the company had been surprised by how many of their most popular areas were in the city’s outer ring.

“It seems like ride-share ­services are plugging the gaps left behind in the network,” he said.

“Two of our top 10 pick-up spots are in far western ­Melbourne where many suburbs have been neglected over the years.

“People don’t always associate ride sharing with this sort of travel but we can clearly see our drivers are now providing a first and last mile service that wasn’t there before.”