The Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) has welcomed today’s election commitment by ACT Labor to run all bus routes 20 minutes or better on weekdays, but has urged the party to go further on delivering improved weekend bus services.
PTCBR Chair Ryan Hemsley said ACT Labor’s public transport policy highlighted a growing recognition that Canberrans deserve better public transport, no matter where in the city they live, and which day of the week they are travelling.
“When it comes to public transport, frequency is freedom – the freedom to choose where you want to go, when you want to go,” said Mr Hemsley.
“It’s great to see the three major parties all commit to improved bus frequencies in the next term of government as part of their election platforms.”
Mr Hemsley said PTCBR supported ACT Labor’s commitment to deliver three new rapid bus routes servicing Molonglo, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
“This initiative will ideally see public transport become part of growing areas as they develop, rather than the usual approach of trying to introduce public transport to alleviate transport problems after they have appeared.”
However, Mr Hemsley encouraged ACT Labor to match the Canberra Liberals and ACT Greens by promising bus services every 30 minutes or better on weekends.
“We know passengers want more frequent weekend buses. As soon as Saturday bus services increased to hourly running earlier this year, patronage increased by more than twenty percent,” Mr Hemsley said.
“Canberra is a modern city with people living full lives every day of the week – we need to move away from old-fashioned attitudes towards weekend public transport service,”
“The best way to get Canberrans onto buses is to make them frequent, reliable and convenient. A boost to our Saturday and Sunday bus frequencies is long overdue and will provide our city with the level of public transport service we deserve.”
PROPOSED MINIMUM BUS SERVICE FREQUENCIES IN 2028*
| Current | Canberra Liberals | ACT Greens | ACT Labor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | 1 hour or better | 30 minutes or better | 20 minutes or better | 20 minutes or better |
| Weekend | 2 hours (Saturday evenings and Sundays) | 30 minutes or better | 30 minutes or better | 1 hour or better |
Ryan Hemsley is the chair of the Public Transport Association of Canberra, a public transport users group committed to improving public transport in the ACT and surrounding region.