While it is great news that the Manly late-night shuttle service is to be extended, I can't help thinking that this is not the long-term solution to Manly's late-night problems. 
 
The antisocial behavior that we experience in our town is the result of irresponsible individuals being served alcohol by licensed premises. When are the police and state licensing authorities going to start making the Licensee's accountable for blatant breaches of their liquor permits? All Licensees are bound by the state government's Responsible Service of Alcohol laws but it seems these conditions are not enforced. 
 
The new state laws for violent venues fall short of solving the root cause of the problem which can be solved by preventing patrons from becoming violently intoxicated. By penalising the Licensee for serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons, they will be forced to more closely monitor who they are serving and hopefully prevent people getting out of control. 
 
Hiring more security staff aims to solve the effect not the cause of the problem. Stopping people getting violently drunk is the only sensible way to reduce Manly's antisocial idiots.

I commend all concerned for their work in securing this extension.  
 
I very much believe the late night bus service, or indeed any form of transport that allows people to disperse from the areas around bars at closing times is extremely beneficial in the reduction of drink related crime/violence. 
 
However I believe we need to be cognisant not only of the need to ensure sufficient transport is available but also what the consequences of forced early closing times of licensed venues can have on crime levels. 
 
I can speak from experience; that of growing up in the UK and spending my early adult life out and about at night around bars and clubs. From what I witnessed every week It was very clear to me that the combination of closing bars all together and forcing a significant number of young drunken people onto the streets at the same time to battle over inadequate transport was a recipe for disaster. In the first instance early closing times meant that many bar goers who didn\'t want to go home, or those that felt they hadn\'t drunk enough would binge drink in the short time before being ejected from the bars. Many would then act irrationally and angrily when being asked to leave and would often leave the bars with a chip on their shoulders. To add insult to injury the transport facilities, whether public or private would struggle to accommodate the large number of people trying to get home at the same time.  
 
From my own experiences I can categorically say that under such circumstances the number of drink related violent crimes was extremely high, and I believe certainly much higher than it would be if bar closing/patron leaving times were staggered and plenty of transport options were made available.

I have been living in Manly for the last 16 years. Yes, it is a great place, yes we have been talking about this problem for the last 14 years and I am pretty sure since the time when the first pub opened it's doors. 
Quite frankly, I think it will take at least another couple of hundred years before the mind will be illuminated sufficiently to realise that one can drink anhd enjoy much better well before getting stoned out of ones mind.

Good on you Mike for taking an active roll in getting the extension of this essential service. 
Furthermore Mike, we the community would like to here that you will push for another bridge crossing to replace the Spit Bridge with the intended increase of the population expected in the Northern Beaches, we desperately need another bridge not patchwork. 
Keep up the good work. 
Regards 
Bob

Of course the service should continue - if the operator can afford to keep it going? - I think i read in the Daily this week that he was making a loss - he should be subsized by Manly Council or by the hotels to keep it going!

Why is the State Government so determined to preserve extended trading hours for Hotels? I think we now all know the answer to that question. 
With State Government support the hours after midnight on Fridays and Weekends Manly belongs to the Hotels and the currency is alcohol and a cash trade. This solution is to change the culture by reduced trading hours. Driving drunks home only acknowledges and preserves the dominance of alcohol and its related massive cash trade..

Why is it just for alcohol related people. With parking at such a premium knowing one could get a bus to a certain area where ones car was parked in relation to the late night bus, would be very helpful. If a timetable and bus route is advertised, especially around festive times I am sure people who wish to only stay out late would start to consider this. I do this during the day. I take my car so far then catch a bus. It is not old age. its being sensible. It may have been advertised in the papers I just do not know. Price timetable and route map very helpful. I travel a fair bit and I always look at OPTIONS regarding transport public or otherwise.