The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will call on the State Government to reverse Metro’s recent changes to bus routes and schedules that have had disastrous effects in the community.
“Many constituents have contacted my office concerned with the recent changes to Metro’s bus routes and schedules,’ Mr Wilkie said. “Their usual bus routes have been stripped back or removed altogether and some people are now simply unable to get to where they need to go.”
“There is of course a need to periodically review and improve bus routes and schedules. But Metro’s recent changes have been implemented without adequate consultation and notice, and have had severe impacts on many passengers and in particular the elderly and people with limited mobility. The fact is that in this case the taking away of what is often a person’s only means of transportation has had enormous detrimental impacts both socially and financially.
“The Minister must listen to the community and immediately direct Metro to reverse the changes and then work with the community on any subsequent reforms.”
Some examples from constituents who have contacted Mr Wilkie’s office are below:
– A constituent’s 6-year-old and 7-year-old children got on the bus from school unaware that the route had changed. They were dropped off in the Glenorchy bus mall and the driver and Metro allegedly refused to help the children or give them directions.
– The changes to West Hobart and Mount Stuart bus routes which rerouted buses from Summerhill Road to Cliff Street have socially isolated people with mobility or health issues because they are uncomfortable crossing the heavy traffic in Mellifont Street and walking up the steep incline of Summerhill Road.
– One constituent recounts how his elderly mother who lives in Letitia Street North Hobart can now no longer travel to the Hobart CBD because her bus service has been removed. She must now rely on taxis or her family to travel into the city.
– Another has raised the problems that have been caused by relocating the Mount Stuart/West Hobart bus stop on Liverpool Street to where the taxi rank used to be. This has caused security concerns due to its close proximity to the Elizabeth Street mall and the fact that passengers can now no longer easily retreat inside the Wellington Centre if they feel threatened.
– Half-hourly buses on Saturdays to West Hobart are now only hourly and the last bus leaves the city at 6:07pm, which is very restrictive for those without other means of transport.
– Express buses that once travelled from Lenah Valley to the city have become much less frequent, even though they were very well-patronised. This has caused tremendous difficulties for people to travel to the city or to Calvary Hospital.
– A constituent who lives on Kinarra Crescent Chigwell now has to walk one kilometre up a hill to catch a bus because the doorstopper service that once stopped on the corner of Kinarra Crescent has been removed.
– Several constituents have been late to work and to appointments because they were unaware of timetable changes.
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison
