The impact of a new bus route on a new suburban development in Melbourne

Much of Melbourne’s future growth is expected to be accommodated on the urban fringe in new, ‘greenfield’ developments. In recent years questions have been raised about the impacts of these developments on the mobility and accessibility provided to residents. Long travel distances and poor access to public transport restrict households to becoming heavily dependent on the private car. Households with limited incomes may be ‘forced’ into investing a large proportion of their income on multiple car ownership and use. Even households with relatively high incomes are pushed away from more sustainable and active travel modes. This study explores the impact of a connecting bus service on a new development in Melbourne’s fringe, Selandra Rise in Clyde North. The development opened in 2011 is located 6km from the nearest town centre and train station. In 2014 a local bus service was introduced to connect the development to the nearest town centre and train station. Two surveys were conducted to explore the use and impact of the new bus service: a survey of Selandra Rise residents (including non-bus-users) and an on-bus survey of riders. Surveys showed that bus users were highly dependent on the service, which performed an important function as a social transit service in the estate. The implications of these findings for the planning of new housing estates were discussed.