Overview
Your days of waiting at the bus stop could soon be at an end, as the NSW Government gears up for a trial of on-demand bus services in Sydney and the Central Coast.
According to the ABC, the trials will begin as early as October, and are expected to cover Manly and the eastern suburbs, Sutherland Shire, Wetherill Park, Greystanes, Edmondson Park, Macquirie Park, and the northern beaches. There will also be a trial held on the Central Coast, while a shuttle will operate for patients, visitors and employees at Bankstown Hospital.
Commuters will be able to book themselves a seat on a shuttle bus via web, phone or mobile app, which will then ferry them to local transport hubs. The services will be run by private operators, with fares ranging from $2.60 to $5.60.
"We've got on-demand movies, we've got on-demand food, well, you can order an on-demand bus now," transport minister Andrew Constance told the national broadcaster.
"We're trying to use every means available to try to ease the pressure on our commuter car parks, on our roads… if you've got eight people in a mini bus that's far more effective than having eight cars on the road."
The trial is expected to run for six months, with an option to extend to it 24 months.
Via ABC.