Mike Baird | Member for Manly - Submission to Sydney Buses

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Submission to Sydney Buses

State Transit Authority
Northern Region
Reply Paid 2132
STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2010

Friday 29 August 2008

Dear Sir or Madam:

I seek to make a submission regarding Sydney Buses’ proposed changes to bus routes in the Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches.

On behalf of commuters in the Manly electorate, I urge you to withdraw this proposal. My office has been bombarded with phone calls, emails and letters from commuters outraged that their bus service is being downgraded.

Following is a summary of the main points of contention referred to in the accompanying correspondence from the local community:

The proposed discontinuation of the E72 and E73 service has created widespread opposition. The services are well utilised and the main form of transport to the city for Seaforth/North Balgowlah residents. Reducing two express services to one (E69) is undoubtedly a reduction in the service. Unless Sydney Buses confirms that the E69 will match the frequency and capacity of existing services, the E72 and E73 must remain.

Reducing the 139 route so it no longer diverts from Oliver Street to the eastern end of Wyadra Avenue, Foam St and Wyndora Avenue would significantly disadvantage many elderly residents in the area. Please find enclosed a petition from local residents, several who are in Department of Housing accommodation and without access to a car. Sydney Buses has advised us the reason for reducing this route is to cut kilometres. That is unacceptable.

The community has found it difficult to accept Sydney Buses’ reasoning for discontinuing the E71 and E68 and making them all-stops services. Adding more stops would only further clog the bottleneck along Military Road and disadvantage many Balgowlah and Manly residents who get on the bus in the city and are already subjected to long commutes home.

It is pleasing that Sydney Buses has said it is open to the outcomes of the consultation process. However, I am concerned that the consultation has not been adequate.

We were advised by Sydney Buses that the ‘Invitation to Comment’ brochure was sent to all households, however many residents have told my office their household did not receive it.

This brochure also failed to clearly articulate the proposed changes affecting residents in the Manly area. For example, the map did not show the new route of the E69 and the list of discontinued routes did not include the E68 and E71 even though it is proposed they are withdrawn and replaced with all-stops services.

Sydney Buses should keep in mind that it is likely the feedback it receives from the community is the tip of the iceberg.

A public forum in Dee Why that I hosted last week with Member for Wakehurst Brad Hazzard and Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes was unanimous in its opposition to Sydney Buses’ proposal. Hundreds of angry commuters seized the opportunity to have their voices heard.

I also ask Sydney Buses to include in its considerations a reinstatement of the 141 Balgowlah service (which was cancelled a few years ago) at least on a trial basis. Many elderly residents used to rely on this service and are now relatively isolated. I understand the demands on buses during peak services but have been advised there is capacity during the day.

Fairlight commuters are also concerned with the recent decision to close the bus stop across from Fairlight fire station on Sydney Road. This bus stop has been active for at least 30 years so it is puzzling that safety issues would be raised now.

The simple message is the community cannot understand why the NSW Government is cutting public transport at a time when traffic is at a standstill, petrol prices are sky high and there is widespread awareness of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

I urge Sydney Buses to respond to the widespread community opposition and withdraw the changes proposed to the E72, E73, E68, E71 and 139 services.

Yours sincerely

Mike Baird
Member for Manly

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Comments (10)

I wish you luck - unfortunately the best you can expect is to retain the status quo.

What is particularly galling about this state govt. proposal is that it is a second attempt to rearrange the deckchairs on the Northern Beaches (NB). Like the earlier bus change proposal a few years ago, it added no net new resources, and was clearly an attempt to be seen to be doing something, while actually doing nothing.

The NB hasn't had any meaningful additions to net public transport in the last generation. Services outside peak hours (esp. after the evening peak) are still sparse-to-nonexistent. Peak services are getting more heavily used, yet vital express/limited stops services are still few and degraded by the lack of bus bays.

Whether we are 'silvertails' or not, we cannot reduce petrol usage or traffic congestion by driving our own cars. Because of its hilly nature, cycling is only for the very fit who are also lucky enough to also have shower access at work (and who are not worried about personal safety either).

Posted by: Alicia at 29-08-2008 12:13

Letter to RTA

Wonderful letter, forcefully and succinctly put. Keep up the fight for all of us committed to using public transport.

Posted by: Antoinette Salier at 29-08-2008 12:13

Local Bus Services

Hi Mike

Thanks for sending the submission on behalf of local bus catchers.

I made a submission direct to Sydney Buses before your request to be copied but much of what I had said is included in your submission.

I'm an E71 catcher and am indeed subjected to long commute times and crowded buses, often being forced to stand until Seaforth Shops. The residents along the Cremorne/Mosman corridor are already very well served with frequent services and fast travel times (well, relatively). It seems there is no need for additional service for those people, although of course they may feel differently.

On a related note, regarding the 139, 132, 141 etc services: I can understand why Sydney Buses are keen to reduce or remove these services as they often contain only a few people. However, the importance of the service to those few is immense.

I personally find the 131/2 service too infrequent to be of real use and I would prefer it supplemented with a frequent local shuttle service, perhaps to the main road. This is similar to the current "Freebie" bus but unfortunately, Freebie runs to a similar timetable to the 132. Without knowing the costs of Sydney Buses it's hard to know if this would help but a shuttle every 20 mins to local, isolated areas would make a huge difference, I feel.

Thanks again
~ Michael

Posted by: Michael at 29-08-2008 12:25

E68

The coming home at night is not the problem with the E68 - I don't think you were strong enough on the fact that all stops in the morning is our problem. Image how much extra time would be added to the journey which cannot get into town on time now. EG I now have to leave home at 7.10am for an 8.15 start in Macquarie St. I could at one stage get the 7.20 but can't now and it is now all stops. EG 8.20 used to get us in to town for a 9am start but not anymore - more like 9.20 start. All stops would kill us.

Posted by: Patricia Garousse at 29-08-2008 13:55

STA. Buses in general.

In my 35 years in the workforce, the first 24 in the Banking Industry and the last 11 driving buses and coaches (a seachange so to speak.) I must agree with a lot of the writers that there has only been cosmetic change to services and no real pro-active analysis of customer needs re:bus transport over the years.
However Mike thank you for your efforts in at least trying to maintain the status-quo (and yes the 141 bus should be re-run as a trial.}

Posted by: Bruce O'Toole at 29-08-2008 17:41

Local Buses Review

The frequency of services in the Nth Balgowlah and Nth Seaforth is insufficent now ----- the changes should increase the service to these areas

Posted by: Gill Whitton at 02-09-2008 07:47

‘Invitation to Comment’ brochure

I live in Clontarf and catch the E72 or E73 daily and confirm that our household did not recieve any such brochure.

Posted by: David Robison at 30-08-2008 07:50

SUBMISSION TO SYDNEY BUSES - ENDORSE

eMichael, I endorse eveything said in the submission to Sydney Buses re: bus (or lack of) situation. Further to my support here is the comment of the numerous number of 'phantom' buses that proceed along Pittwater Road - surely, Sydney Buses' Managers can avoid such large wastage of empty buses either heading towards or departing from Brookvale Depot? Many thanks for the opportunites to express my opinions and comments.
Good luck with your endeavours. John

Posted by: John at 31-08-2008 17:06

BUSES AND TRANSPORT

Mike - get's the message across but maybe they ned reminding about frequency and reliability! carlo

Posted by: Carlo Bongarzoni at 01-09-2008 22:16

BUSES AND TRANSPORT

Mike - having just read Manly Daily Sept 3rd to find \'demand for services grew 3 per cent across Sydney and taking an extra 13.2 per cent of passengers - why then are they going to cut our Services . with more people moving into the area North Balgowlah and Seaforth we do not need less transport.

Posted by: sandra Jenner at 03-09-2008 08:17

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