RESIDENTS and university students have had mixed reactions to the new bus timetable.
Phillip Deveaux, third-year student at University of Western Sydney (UWS), said the changes have made it easier for him to get to class.
The Mt Druitt resident said the 774 bus he catches isn't as frequent but now he only needs to take two buses to campus instead of two buses and a train.
He then takes the free university shuttle bus from Kingswood train station.
He said the only downside to the new routes is that buses were originally proposed to pass closer to UWS buildings. As the roads aren't adequate for buses, routes are further away.
``Patronage isn't that high,'' he said.
``Students haven't complained and there is an indifference.''
Safety, convenience and choice are the concerns of UWS senior journalism lecturer and public transport user, Barbara Alysen.
She said it was great to see seven routes through the university campuses and that safer stations at Penrith and St Marys, are the new stations that the routes use.
Another benefit she points out is that students and staff have more options because the new Westbus route now takes students and staff to Penrith and St Marys stations, meaning city residents can take an express train to Penrith station.
But she has noticed patronage isn't high too.
She said the lower access road that the Westbus buses use has three bus stops and only one of has a shelter. She said students are more likely to access the bus from the stop that is nearest the Great Western Highway but
there is no shelter there at the moment.
``I'm saddened I don't see more students and staff on the bus,'' she said.
``There aren't any seats or shelter and it's a problem when it's hot, wet and particularly in the magpie season.
``It would be better patronised if the buses would travel along closer to teaching spaces too.''
A Westbus spokesperson said as with all new routes, it takes time to build patronage, but Westbus is confident this route has the potential for a lot of growth.
``Also over time there may well be refinements and additions to the route as patronage grows,'' he said.
``It should be remembered that the University has its own free shuttle bus which also provides a service on
the campus.
``Westbus buses can only use the bus stops available to them and only use roads accessible to heavy vehicles.''
Silverdale resident Rebekah McDonald said she did not have a good experience with the new bus timetable.
Ms McDonald travels to the city three times a week for medical appointments and the new bus changes have
disrupted her day because the number of bus trips have been cut and earlier times are much later now.
``One day I sat at the bus stop for 1.5 hours and didn't know the times changed,'' she said.
``When I rang up Westbus I complained about not informing people and they said bad luck, and that we
have to find out the new timetable from Penrith train station.
``But I said some people don't go to Penrith train station and unless they go there, they wouldn't know.''
She also said it is very confusing where to catch the bus back home once she gets to Penrith Station because
five or six buses try to leave from the same bus stop.
``I've witnessed bus drivers squabbling over where they are parking and you have buses that are out of service clogging things up aswell,'' she said.
Penrith MP Karyn Paluzzano said there have been significant improvements to local bus services with the
new 774/775 and 776 service which runs every 10 minutes during the day and connects commuters to
both Penrith and St Marys railway stations, major shopping centres as well as key destinations residents
require such as the University, TAFE and Nepean Hospital.
``Most residents I have spoken to are generally
happy with the new bus timetables,'' she said.
``In large part that's due to the amount of community consultation that took place, which I was a strong
advocate for.''
A spokesman for UWS said: "We are continually reviewing and assessing transport services across our campus network.
''No decision has been made to change the current UWS shuttle bus servicing the Werrington and Kingswood campuses."
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