The Victorian public transport sector has taken up the fight against rising fuel prices, calling on the state government to improve services amid the crisis.
Public transport advocates from the Better Buses for the West campaign joined the call from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and the Greens party to improve public transport.
The Better Buses campaign says it particularly supports the VFF’s idea to introduce free public transport and encourage commuters to switch to public transport.
“We are thrilled to see these unlikely allies joining the call for better public transport in Victoria,” Better Buses for the West campaign member Elyse Cunningham says.
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“We encourage anyone who can to make the switch to public transport, but this switch won’t be possible for residents in Melbourne’s west unless the state government provides a usable service.
“In areas of Melbourne’s west, families are being forced to continue relying on their cars, with buses only running every 40-60 minutes and no alignment with train timetables rendering them unusable for commuters.
“Families in Melbourne’s growing west are going to be bit twice as hard by rising fuel costs and interest rates if the government doesn’t act now to ensure they have an option other than the car.
“Buses are the fastest and cheapest solution the government can provide in the short term to make sure that economic inequality isn’t further exacerbated in our city.”
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