Gawler bus commuters Pam Abbott, Veronica Schiller and Bernice O’Leary and Member for Light Tony Piccolo at one of the bus stops which was set to be scrapped as part of now-cancelled bus reforms. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
TWO weeks after fearing her local route would soon be slashed and replaced with an on-demand service, Gawler commuter Pam Abbott was jubilant to hear the State Government is backing down from its proposed bus overhaul.
Just over a fortnight after announcing three Gawler bus routes would be cut as part of an Adelaide-wide bus system reform, the State Government has been forced to backflip on the plans following outcry from the community.
The proposed overhaul would have seen the 491, 492 and 495 services cut and replaced with a revamped on-demand service.
More than 57 bus stops across Gawler East, Willaston, Hewett and Gawler South were also set to be removed.
The move failed to be popular with local commuters though, with Mrs Abbott adamant transport minister Stephan Knoll would never have suggested an expanded on-demand service if he had better researched the town.
“I’m really pleased they came to their senses and realised people do need the buses and that everyone wants the buses,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where it’s coming from.
“I think they realised they definitely would have been chucked out at the next election because everyone is up and arms about transport because we all need it. We don’t need the cars, particularly here in Gawler.”
“I think they realised they made a bloomer.”
On Friday, Mr Knoll, speaking to The Bunyip, tried to allay commuters’ fears over the expanded on-demand service.
He said the new system would have been similar to trials underway in the Barossa and Mount Barker, where users request a bus trip using a smartphone app, similar to Uber.
When using the current on-demand service, commuters need to call at least an hour in advance to book a trip, in a system Mr Knoll said he “hesitates to call on-demand”.
On Monday, after announcing the proposed changes would not be going ahead, he denied questions he was “out of step” with bus users.
“This wasn’t a case of ‘here’s what the new timetables going to look like’,” Mr Knoll said.
“It was a case of ‘here is what a proposed new network would look like, please let us know what your feedback is’.
“They’ve done that, we’ve listened to that, and that’s why we’re making this announcement today.”
