Re: Plenty Valley Bus Network
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 11:34 pm
As allways krustyklo,well said.
I spent some time in Whittlesea about 6 weeks ago.My observations are of very empty buses.I observed three buses leaving Whittlesea around the 1pm mark.One each to Northland,Greensborough and Kinglake.Combined patronage -one passenger.
I've also ridden the old 562 a few times off peak and peak from Whittlesea to Greensborough.Loadings varied from 6 to 11 pax.Most ,as you said connected to the train at Greensborough.The loadings at Whittlesea are predominately school students and peak hour commuters.The off peak is very quiet.As you said an 80 minute frequency is not a passenger attractor and frankly a waste of resources
I think to access Heidelberg from Whittlesea and areas south would be easily covered by the train to either Preston or Bell and the frequent Smartbus or 513.That would almost be as quick as driving at peak.
I hope the PTV use passenger boarding data to work out route changes.I know that data was NOT used in the lousy decision to delete the old 509.Short term political decisions to create bus routes like the 385 and new 509 lead to poorly used services,that are a waste of resources and create ,like you said perceptions(mostly real)of empty buses subsidised by the taxpayer.
I spent some time in Whittlesea about 6 weeks ago.My observations are of very empty buses.I observed three buses leaving Whittlesea around the 1pm mark.One each to Northland,Greensborough and Kinglake.Combined patronage -one passenger.
I've also ridden the old 562 a few times off peak and peak from Whittlesea to Greensborough.Loadings varied from 6 to 11 pax.Most ,as you said connected to the train at Greensborough.The loadings at Whittlesea are predominately school students and peak hour commuters.The off peak is very quiet.As you said an 80 minute frequency is not a passenger attractor and frankly a waste of resources
I think to access Heidelberg from Whittlesea and areas south would be easily covered by the train to either Preston or Bell and the frequent Smartbus or 513.That would almost be as quick as driving at peak.
I hope the PTV use passenger boarding data to work out route changes.I know that data was NOT used in the lousy decision to delete the old 509.Short term political decisions to create bus routes like the 385 and new 509 lead to poorly used services,that are a waste of resources and create ,like you said perceptions(mostly real)of empty buses subsidised by the taxpayer.