MEMBERS of the Bathurst Bus Community Action Group say they are outraged their calls for better bus timetables have been ignored by several agencies one year on from the “toxic” changes.
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Bathurst Buslines and Buslines Group issued a new timetable on December 19, 2013 that has been described as “dysfunctional” by regular commuters.
Critics say the changes have led to fewer buses being available at specific times during the day, poor route connections, and times that are harder to commit to memory, particularly for the cognitive impaired.
Bathurst Bus Community Action Group (BBCAG) spokeswoman Jenni Brackenreg said elderly people, the socially disadvantaged and the disabled were the most affected by the timetable.
Some of the main problems she cited were the major gaps in afternoon schedules.
“Usually from 2pm to 4.30pm there are no buses,” she said.
The BBCAG wants to see the afternoon gaps closed and more bus times put in place on Saturdays.
“We’d like to see that big gap in the afternoon removed,” Ms Brackenreg said.
“There are buses there that could be used.”
Ms Brackenreg added the bus drivers are often the targets of criticism from dissatisfied passengers, but her group doesn’t think they should be blamed.
“Our concerns are about the management of Buslines and their timetables, whereas we are fully supportive of the bus drivers who do a fantastic job under the circumstances,” she said.
BBCAG approached Bathurst Buslines, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian, Member for Bathurst Paul Toole and mayor Gary Rush throughout the past 12 months regarding the issue and has reportedly been ignored.
Bathurst Buslines has been called “profit-driven” by the group, and Ms Brackenreg believes school runs have been prioritised over providing the town with excellent service.
“As a condition of having those school runs they have to provide a town service,” she said. “There is no incentive to provide a good town service.”
Buslines Group operations manager Geoff Ferris told the Western Advocate the BBCAG had been unable to give the company a list of specific timetable problems and he dismissed the “profit-driven” claims.
“Bathurst Buslines exceeds the minimum service levels that are required of us under our bus services contract in Bathurst,” Mr Ferris said.
“If we were so “profit driven” we would reduce these services back to the minimum level – but we don’t as we are committed to providing a quality service.”
Mr Ferris said Bathurst Buslines had printed an updated timetable with five minor adjustments following user feedback.