Adelaide bus patronage down 231,000 trips as critics blame Government policy

Public transport policies are discouraging patronage in Adelaide, lobbyists say, after Freedom of Information figures uncovered a significant decline in bus patronage in the first six months of the year. Key points: Bus patronage is significantly lower in the first half of 2019 A public transport lobby group blames bus infrequency and fare increases for the drop-off in patronage The Transport Minister says the statistics have been cherrypicked State Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said FOI figures showed people took 231,287 fewer bus journeys in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2018. "That's why we're so concerned about these bus cuts, but what we're particularly concerned about is this Government's public transport policy generally." Bus frequency complaints Knoll taking Adelaide's public transport back to the future Road investment trumps light rail when it comes to Adelaide's public transport future, according to Transport Minister Stephan Knoll. "As soon you start to discourage people from using public transport, which the current policies are doing, whatever the statistics say, you're undercutting your customer base," Ms Buckhorn said.