Peninsula bus commuters had their voices heard in the NSW Parliament last week when Manly MP Mike Baird and Pittwater MP Rob Stokes implored the Government to listen to the community and withdraw its plans to cut services.

“During the past month my office has been swamped with hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls expressing commuters’ outrage about the cuts,” Mr Baird told Parliament on Friday after lodging a submission with Sydney Buses on behalf of the Manly community.

Mr Stokes added, “The Minister for Transport and Ministry of Transport should know that the people of the Northern Beaches do not support de-expressing express buses or changes to stopping patterns that would result in slower trips.

“Our express buses are our lifeline. We do not want any changes to the timetable for express buses – we rely on them.”

Mr Baird and Mr Stokes shared the views of local commuters who had written to the Minister for Transport demanding their bus service not be downgraded.

One commuter wrote, “You want us to use public transport however you then go out of your way to make our public transport less desirable and far less practical – forcing us out on that substandard road system! Again – the irony is that when you should be adding services – you are taking them away. Incredulous logic and just ‘dumb’ government in action”.

Mr Baird said the Minister for Roads had recently admitted he had never travelled on the Spit corridor in public transport or in a car during peak hour.

“One cannot understand the problems that people face unless one faces them oneself,” Mr Baird said.

Mr Stokes added, “It is important members realise that changing a bus timetable is not simply a bureaucratic exercise – it has a direct impact on people’s jobs, finances and quality of life.

“Sydney Buses say that the changes are all about making the timetable easier to understand. The people of Pittwater want more buses and faster trips, not timetables that are easier to understand,” Mr Stokes told Parliament.

“Sydney Buses told me it would listen to the community. The community has spoken and I ask Sydney Buses to throw out these proposals,” said Mr Baird.

MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880 

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed.
Name:
E-mail
Subject:
Comment:
Code:*