Travel “clean and green” with metro-style bus trial
BY BRENDAN WONG
A trial metro-style bus service will provide Sydneysiders with cleaner and more efficient services and ease traffic congestion.
Thirteen new buses will operate between Leichhardt, Kingsford and the inner city, and will travel along Parramatta Road and Anzac Parade via the new Mid City Transport Interchange precinct in the CBD.
The new route will also service major shopping areas, transport hubs, sporting and entertainment venues and three universities.
Buses will run every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 15 minutes during off-peak times, and because of the frequency of the service timetables will not be issued.
‘All the metro buses come with the latest environmental and security technology, guaranteeing a safe, clean and green way to travel and the larger capacity will hopefully lead to fewer cars on our roads,’ said NSW Premier Nathan Rees, who unveiled the service.
Lily Price, 19, a student from the University of Technology, said the extra buses would make it easier for commuters who often had wait half an hour to board over-crowded buses.
‘They’re meant to come in 10 minute intervals anyway and they don’t,’ Miss Price said. ‘The state of Sydney’s roads is so bad right now, the traffic is just absolutely unbelievable and getting here by public transport is nearly impossible.’
Greens City of Sydney Councillor, Chris Harris, said he supported any improvement in public transport frequency if it encouraged more people to catch the bus.
‘Just one downside with buses is that they’re competing for road space and the State Government are encouraging more and more people onto the roads by continuing to build freeways,’ Mr Harris said.
‘So they’re kind of undermining their own policy, because what they should be doing is encouraging people out of their cars by building better train services [and] by extending the light rail from Lilyfield, a service that many people in the inner-west will use.’
The 12-month trial starts on October 12 and if successful, the buses will be introduced to other areas of Sydney.
