Small buses not suitable for Phegans Bay, residents told

Only a small number of services to Phegans Bay could be operated by a small bus, according to the operator of bus services to The Bays

"Smaller vehicles would simply not have the capacity or flexibility to provide services during the school and commuter peaks," Busways has told The Bays Community Group.

Group president Ms Cathy Gleeson said the response from Busways had not been what Bays residents were hoping for.

"The request to use smaller buses on selected routes on the Central Coast has been around, and resurfacing periodically, for a number of years," a letter from Busways stated.

"This is token of two things: It is not an unreasonable request. It is a difficult issue and one not easily resolved.

"There are many practical implications emanating from the use of smaller buses.

"Not the least of these is the ability to provide sufficient capacity to accommodate the carriage of school students.

"This is particularly so owing to the influx of younger families with children, as you have alluded in your letter.

"At this juncture at least, school bus services will always need to be provided by full size conventional buses.

"That being said, realistically, only a small handful of the overall number of services to Phegan's Bay could actually be operated by a smaller vehicle and these would not be in the peaks when most residents are leaving and entering the suburb.

"A check of the data over the past five years yields a small number of complaints received regarding the issue of buses and cars not being able to pass each other on narrow local roads.

"This is not in itself a reason for a lack of action, neither however does it present as a trigger for change.

"However, it remains not an option to provide services to Phegan's Bay with a smaller bus at this time.

"Busways seeks to assure the members of The Bays Community Group on behalf of all residents, that we have considered this matter afresh, and have certainly not been intransigent in our deliberations," the response reads.

SOURCE:

Newsletter, 31 May 2019

Cathy Gleeson, Bays Community Group