Less than two a day on board bus trial

Alex de Vos
A cloud hangs over hopes for a Surf Coast community bus after less than two passengers a day used the service during a trial.
Passengers were also reluctant to contribute to-ward the service, donating $1.04 on average toward the cost of fuel, according to Spring Creek Community House.
Surf Coast Shire director of sustainable communities Dennis Barker said the bus attracted 107 passengers during the 60-day trial.
Public Transport Users Association’s Paul Westcott said the results were not surprising.
“We were a bit dubious about it’s success because of the nature of the service it was providing,” Mr West-cott said.
“The idea was that it was supposed to fill in the gaps between public transport and taxis but it goes around on a fairly restricted route and it possibly only ran once a day.”
Mr Barker said the bus, which ran on a “loop route”, had “helped a number of people who otherwise could not travel run errands or catch up with friends”.
“The results of the trial will be used to help plan for future public transport in Torquay,” he said.
“The provision of public transport throughout the Surf Coast is an issue council is extremely keen to work on with the Department of Transport and transport providers.”
Department of Transport provided funding for the trial.
The shire did not answer an Independent question about the total cost of the trial.