After 18 years, Central Geelong Park and Ride shuttle bus service is being canned
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27.04.2023

After 18 years, Central Geelong Park and Ride shuttle bus service is being canned

Bad news for those who use the Park and Ride shuttle bus.

In another hit to the Geelong region, the Central Geelong Park and Ride shuttle bus service is being discontinued.

The service, which has been operating since 2005, was deemed ‘no longer financially viable’ following a review into operating costs and reduced passenger numbers.

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

The review found that the program is running at just a four per cent occupancy. The service has the capacity to move 1,500 passengers each day but is averaging around 73 daily or 1,517 passengers a month so far this year. Last year, an average of just 1,421 people used the service each month.

It’s believed the COVID-19 pandemic and a trend towards working from home is what has affected patronage, with passengers dropping to an average of 802 and 854 per month in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Passenger numbers are still under 50 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers.

Running every 10 minutes in the morning and evening peaks on weekdays between Upper Hearne Parade, Eastern Park and three locations in central Geelong, the park and ride service has been wholly outsourced for the last five years. The fixed cost to run the service, regardless of the number of passengers, means that a $3 ticket costs the community $33.68.

For those that used the park and ride service, there are two similar bus routes – 32 and 60 – that commuters can use instead.

Passengers will be notified that final shuttles will be run on Friday 19 May.

The draft Central Geelong Parking Strategy, which aims to manage the current and future demand for parking, will be available for community and stakeholder feedback soon.

You can read more about the decision here