Our Central Geelong Park and Ride shuttle bus service is being discontinued.
A review has found operating costs and reduced passenger numbers mean the service is no longer financially viable.
The program is running at four percent occupancy. It has 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.
The COVID-19 pandemic and a trend towards working from home 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.
The park and ride 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.
There are two similar bus routes – 32 and 60 – that commuters can utilise in place of this service. Hybrid working has reduced the demand for parking in central Geelong.
Passengers will be notified that final shuttles will be run on Friday 19 May.
Find alternative parking arrangements in central Geelong.
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.
The Central Geelong Park and Ride has been operating since 2005. The service runs every 10 minutes in the morning and evening peaks on weekdays between Upper Hearne Parade, Eastern Park and three locations in central Geelong.
Gareth Smith - Director City Planning and Economy
Poor usage coupled with a
fixed price contract makes the cost per passenger unsustainable.
We recognise that community members who use the Central Geelong Park and Ride
shuttle will be disappointed by the news that the service is ending.
Like
other organisations, the City is facing a challenging economic climate with
rising costs, the impacts of inflation and financial uncertainty arising from
the pandemic.
The park and
ride is a discretionary service and unfortunately, the spend doesn’t represent value to the broader community, the
City or the environment.
This
is not a sustainable commercial and financial position to be in and as a result, we are
having to make tough choices as we focus on protecting core services.