MP backs hourly bus services push

A call for the return of hourly bus services to Portarlington, St Leonards and Indented Head has been backed by member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay.
Geelong Indy reported last week Bellarine bus users labelled the current service a “disservice” saying they were treated like second class citizens.
Mr Ramsay said his office had received numerous complaints of a second-rate bus service from St Leonards to Geelong’s city centre because it ran only every 80 minutes instead of hourly.
“Bus users have also expressed their frustration at my listening posts in Drysdale, Queenscliff, Ocean Grove and Leopold,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Many commuters living on the Bellarine are reliant on an efficient and effective bus service but the current timetable has many passengers waiting nearly 2 hours in Geelong before work given the lack of suitable timetables prior to the 7.10am service.
“Most of the problems seem to be in the peak hour services for those who have work commitments and for those using the bus service for shopping in Portarlington, Drysdale or Geelong.
“The recently held PTV meetings clearly showed passenger dissatisfaction with the current bus timetables across the region and a lack of myki card access in the Bellarine.
“I note Member for Lara John Eren quick to don a Christmas hat for a photo op in announcing a backflip of timetabling in his seat of Lara, thanks to howls of protest from bus users angry with the current timetables.
“My hope is Lisa Neville will pop on her Christmas hat and look in her own backyard and respond to the dissatisfaction of bus passengers on the Bellarine, and have a return to hourly bus services from St Leonards to Geelong.”
Vice-president of community group Staying­in­Portarlington Jenny Wills told Geelong Indy last week locals were fed up and wanted the immediate reinstatement of an hourly service over the Christmas holiday period.
A petition calling for Public Transport Victoria to reinstate the hourly bus service is being circulated around the three towns.