One thing that I remember from advocating for the return of buses, back in 2009 in Mount Druitt, which included improvements for public transport and community infrastructure, was something that would help a lot of commuters understand train and bus timetables, in our regional area. I feel there are some or many people that may not be aware of it.
Recently, I have heard some community members have difficulty with traveling on buses in our Bay & Basin area and connecting to train services in Bomaderry. Sometimes missing connections, which in turn may make them miss appointments, family, and/or personal commitments.
So, I learned in those times, all buses were installed with transponders, which in turn can relay to commuters through software applications like 'Tripview', real-time where your actual bus service is at. I remember knowing your bus stop number, you can then save your trips from your bus stop number, and all services will be updated as you travel on your journey. It was easy to understand and it still is easier to understand. You also have a real-time position on a map, where your public transport service is situated, and this information is updated every 30 seconds or so.
More information on how to use 'Tripview' for trip planning can be viewed here. This can all even be helpful with you catching and connecting with trains. This free application can be downloaded on your phone from Google Play or Apple Store. My suggestion is to access the real-time map from the application and you will see where your bus actually is in traveling time.
Besides 'TripView', there is Next Station only for trains. Personally, in my opinion, it is not what we need to use. We need to use applications that include bus services.
Another application that may be used is called Anytrip. To me, it is as good as 'Tripview' in relation to real-time mapping.
Moveit Application is another way to plan your trips. Looking at it briefly, it's good having alerts for various Sydney Train network lines but it doesn't seem to make me like it that much.
So now, when I hear people say, 'I rang the bus company and they blamed the NSW Government for late buses, early buses, or even no arrival of buses.' Now, you can take a photo from your phone of your real-time timetable and include the map showing where the bus is or isn't. Now, you could email these details to the Bus Co., copy them to your Local State Member, and to the NSW Minister of Transport. I would even include your Ward Councillors' emails, so they are aware. Finally the NSW Regional Transport & Roads Minister*. I'm sure one or more of these will listen to you, especially if you provide them with evidence.
This was the trick of my trade of getting buses back in Mount Druitt, the more right people you inform, the more chance of a positive response you got.
In our Bay & Basin area is Nowra Coaches and they cannot say it is a NSW Government problem if it is a timetable issue. They are contracted to run and provide bus services in the region, as agreed by NSW Government. It is every Bus Operator's responsibility to ensure their buses run on time, so commuters catch their bus.
What a lot of commuters in our area may not know is that the contract periods are usually from 3 to 5 years and that tendering process is a fair process that enables the right Bus Operator to provide that service for the tendered area.
The Bus Company Operators are paid per kilometer not per passenger/commuter. So, if a bus is empty or has few commuters - the Bus Company Operators are still making money and profit. What gets me here is that they do not go out and advertise/promote their bus services to local or wider media. This is the same for every Bus Company Operator around the State. I can vouch for that by previously speaking to spokespersons at Westbus and Busways at Blacktown City Council Annual Transport Forums.
Click here for Bus Operator maps for NSW.
Click here for Nowra Coaches Timetables for our region.
Right, reviewing the Nowra Coaches Timetables, I have noticed there is no link to 'Tripview' or a similar application to download, enabling real-time services to be checked. So, I hope you find this post useful. Although it is not one of their priorities, I noticed no supplied cost structure on bus fares. Just $2.50 for concession fare commuters.
Also, as I reviewed the Nowra Coach Bus timetable, There are no NSW Bus stop numbers against all bus stop names on the timetable. Bus Stop Numbers should also be displayed on all Bus Stop signs as well as timetables. It would have made it easier for commuters to use these planner trip applications and check the real-time on buses, while they are traveling. Click here for Nowra Coaches
Now to assist you in locating your bus stop numbers. Transport for NSW Trip Planner - will let you search for your designated bus stop number. This is a public online application that you will need to download. Make sure you download the correct free one. Here is a video from NSW Transport on how to use this application here
Here is the research conducted matching bus stops to the Nowra Coaches Timetabled Bus Stops within the Basin:
Bus Stop Number *2540 Anson St, before Kean St, Sanctuary Point
Bus Stop Number 25401303 Frederick & Edmund St, Sanctuary Point
Bus Stop Number 2540350 Island Point Rd @ St Georges Basin Rd, St Georges Basin
Bus Stop Number 25401149 John St Opposite Junee St, Basin View
Bus Stop Number 2540347 Paradise Beach Rd opposite Sanctuary Point Public School, Sanctuary Point & Sanctuary Point Public School, Paradise Beach Rd, Sanctuary Point
Bus Stop Number 2540360 Prentice Avenu and MacDonald St, Old Erowal Bay
Bus Stop Number 2540130 St Georges Basin Public School, Tallyan Rd, Basin View
Bus Stop Number 2540495 The Park Dr Opposite Stephens Rd, Sanctuary Point
**I will come back with a Bus Stop Number once I have completed my searches, for this one. There are heaps of other bus stop numbers allocated within our area - through the Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin Community Champions I will be following up on these other bus stops signs and numbers as I am pretty sure there is no bus stop sign on them or bus stop.
One thing I would like to advocate for our Region is to bring down here the Opal card, which would bring down costs for traveling buses. So, this I will be discussing with Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc as They advocate for improvements within the community.
*Here is a list of emails and contacts, if you wish to raise timetable issues with Nowra Coaches and other NSW Transport sources as well as local Councillors (as previously mentioned):
Nowra Coaches website click here.
| Email Address: admin@premiersms.com.au SouthCoast State Member Hon. Liz Butler MP email: southcoast@parliament.nsw.gov.au |
NSW Minister of Transport, Hon. Jo Haylen -There is no contactable email. You will be able to send an online message to the Minister here.
NSW Minister of Regional Transport And Roads. Hon. Jenny Atchison MP. There is no contactable email. You will be able to send online correspondence here.
Shoalhaven City Councillors in Ward 2 Click here for their email contact details .
As a former public transport advocate for Mount Druitt and Western Sydney Secretary of Western Sydney Public Transport Users Group Inc. I can assure you all that I am happy to provide all my advocacy knowledge of what I have learned to all of you!
Please spread the word about these trip planners, use them, and let me know how you are going with them, even by adding a comment on this post. I always believe patience is the essence of life and the rewards of life.
I hope to motivate more commuters to catch public transport as our fuel and car expenses rise. Remember the more people that commute on public transport, the more of a chance, we will have more services meeting demands.
 j |
| You will notice the Bus Stop Number on the bottom right-hand corner of the Bus Stop Sign. That's how ours should look like or similar |
