I am at the beginning stages of organising a 'Bay & Basin Public Transport 'Catch a bus Day". The inspiration has come from the production of 9 QuickTrips and Scenic Trips Click here for the 9th one and - click at the end of the post for others
Ok. What is this all about? It is all about getting more people's bums on bus seats within the Bay & Basin area and beyond.
Why?
The 'basic' reason why, is the patronage on our local buses is so low, we are lucky to actually have these bus services provided by The NSW Government and serviced by local Bus Operators like Nowra Coaches and Shoal Buses.
I was appalled coming from an urban area where patronage was not an issue, it was just the bus service itself was in high demand and in peak times, fully seated.
So why in our regions there isn't great patronage for these services? Simply, it is based on years and years of governments focussing on urban bus routes and making regions secondary, from my understanding.
Here the Green Party would support me in changing the focus of private cars travelling to public transport travelling/ The Liberal Party would support me in spending on expansive promotional material on all levels of media, to make people catch buses of their own choice. 'Things like Billboards with the Shoalhaven Bus Network Map' and links to the Bus Operators' timetables/contact details.-, along each way of the Princess Highway. We don't even have Shoalhaven Tourism promote buses in their flyers and books.-, because as i was basically told, 'It is too much information to provide.'
We do promote the purchasing of vehicles but at the end of the day, we do not promote the Public Transport Bus Services, which is sad. We are behind the times here. people leave their cars at home, there is a great ecological advantage, to the environment as well as economic advantage to people as they are spending less on fuel and less wear and tear on their vehicle.
The Liberal Party would agree that this in itself creates a stronger economy once money is spent on trips
So how do we solve this problem? Simply, we run a local campaign of awareness for Public Transport Buses by calling it ' Bay & Basin Public Transport Catch a Bus Day!'
Well, it is what it says, 'Catch a Bus' - I have suggested that on Tuesday 19th March 2024, with the support of Nowra Coaches/, we will organise the community to catch 102X from all Bay Basin villages, starting from Basin View right through to Woollamia and then continuing to Th Hon. Liza Butler's Office in Plunket Street, Nowra. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a few speeches from John Svoboda, Liza Butler, May & Deputy May and open to to other Councillors to seek on it as well
For Sussex Inlet bus commuters Shoal Bus 134
Time |
Bus Stop Number |
Bus Stop Destination |
8.25 |
2540200 |
Collier Drive, Opp Cudmirrah-Berrara Community Hall |
10.11 |
2540409 |
HomeCo Shopping Centre, Vincentia |
Depart- Basin View Bus 102X as follows with various pickup points:
Time |
Bus Stop Number |
Bus Stop Destination |
|
2540130 |
St Georges Basin Public School, Tallyan Rd, Basin View |
9.52 |
2540350 |
Island Point Rd @ St Georges Rd, St Georges Basin |
10.00 |
2540357 |
Paradise Beach Rd, Opposite Public School, Sanctuary Point |
10.03 |
25401299 |
The Wool Road, before MacGibbon Parade, Old Erowal Bay |
10.07** |
2540409 |
HomeCo Shopping Centre, Vincentia |
10.13 |
2540631 |
The Wool Road, Opposite Vincentia Shopping Village |
10.19 |
2540367 |
Huskisson Shops, Owen Street, Huskisson |
10.26 |
254021065 |
Woollamia Road @ James Farmer Grove, Woollamia |
11.00* |
2541163 |
Nowra Public School, Plunkett Street, Nowra |
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*Based on Nowra Post Office time table |
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**wait for 134 Bus to arrive |
Return Trip with Liza Butler on Nowra Coaches Bus 102 Scenic from Nowra Public School
All commuters will be dropped off to their local bus stops by the bus driver from Woollamia to Basin View
Time |
Bus Stop Number |
Bus Stop Destination |
13.4 |
2541163 |
From: Nowra Public School, Plunkett Street, Nowra |
15.15 |
2540130 |
To: St Georges Basin Public School, Tallyan Rd, Basin View |
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Sussex Inlet Commuters could get off at HomeCo, Vincentia and be offered a bus service by Shoal Bus to Sussux Inlet |
To register your ride on the Nowra Coaches 102X & return 102 buses, send an email to:
admin@premierms.com.au
Further information: John Svoboda Ph: 0412118678
Please provide your name, contact phone and which bus stop you will be catching the bus, as above. You will be provided with an electronic numbered ticket by Nowra Coaches for that journey only. It must be shown on entering the bus.
The event was created by John Svoboda & supported by Nowra Coaches NSW Transport, Shoals Bus Bus Service, Illawarra- South Coast Transport Working Group and by the Hon. Liza Butler, State member of South Coast.
Public Transport recognised days:
- 29th February 2020, Luxembourg became the first country in the world to make all public transport free to use.
- 1st Saturday in March - International Free Public Transport Day is celebrated.
- 18th March is Bus Driver /Appreciation Day started to commemorate a free bus line, Blaise Pascal's Carrosses à cinq sols in Paris, 1662.
- 1st October 2022, Malta became the 2nd country in the world to make all public transport free to use.
- 10th November - World Public Transport Day. Transport to raise awareness of the negative environmental effects of increasing traffic density and to motivate people to use public transportation and conserve fuel.
- 24th November - World Sustainable Day. Transport is vital for promoting connectivity, trade, economic growth and employment. Yet it is also implicated as a significant source of green-house gas emissions. Resolving these trade-offs is essential to achieving sustainable transport and, through that, sustainable development.
Outcome:
Even to see a slight increase in patronage over the months. More people talking about it and an expansion of this event to all over the Shoalhaven Bus Network and the promotion of this event to be 2025 taken up ny NSW Transport. Finally by 2026, to be recognized by the United Nations as hopefully, an International Free-Fare Public Transport Catch a Bus Day!
Click here for the Shoalhaven Bus Network Map
