Mt Evelyn on Public Transport

Attending a METIC (Mt Evelyn Township Improvement Committee) community meeting on Transitions Towns an idea was born on how to raise awareness on public transport. Mt Evelyn now has bus and train timetables available at the local Post Office, the library and the Community house. Previously timetables were only available at Lilydale Station and on busses. Taking advantage of the two imminent elections our bumper stickers (as shown) will be available at 15cents per sticker and can be ordered using the following form. All community houses throughout Victoria are to be contacted and it is hoped that many will be enthused enough to order and sell/distribute the bumper stickers and also to ask their local post offices to order timetables by ringing Metlink on the feedback line 1800 800 166. We will also be approaching other community organisations such as the Public Transport Users Association and Lions.

The aims are;-
1. To make timetables readily available to all including in particular those who are not users of public transport but sometimes think about it.
2. There are approximately 3 million cars in Victoria. To get bumper stickers on at least 50% of Victorian cars will send a strong message to all politicians.

Only a very small effort is needed for any one individual to make this a reality.

Each bumper sticker is only 20cents and will be avilable shortly from the Mt Evelyn Community Link, Morrison House, and some Post Offices in the area. If you would like to pre-order or order a bulk amount for your group or business feel free to contact Trish Bellerby on (03) 9736 2686.

If you are a business or community group and would like to order 50 or more to resell or hand out to members please email your group name (or your full name), Address, Phone Number, and the Quantity of Stickers you would like to: mtevelyn@gmail.com

Click here to read the Transport Connections MAV Transport Forum October 2005

A4 Promotion Posters - Click on the image to download and print

Ways you can help.
Each person only has to do a little bit to make an impact, here are some suggestions.

1. Placing local bus and train timetables into local shops.
2. Purchase stickers.
3. Put stickers on cars bikes, bags, back packs, prams, etc.
4. Place an update article in the ANHLC newsletter telling readers what you are doing and why.
5. Place articles in your local newspaper/newsletter.

Your Story

Below are submitted stories with information about how people see public transport in their area.


To whom it may concern,
 
I believe improvements in Public Transport in the Yarra Valley and Dandengong Ranges region is essential.
 
Certainly an increased bus services is needed for communities along the Warburton Highway, as well as to Yarra Glen and Healesville.
 
I have been a resident in the Yarra Valley all my life, and have utilised public transport as a means of travel since my early high school years. The lack of late evening returns from Healesville and up past Woori Yallock makes arrangements more difficult in getting home after a night with friends in these areas.
 
Local businesses (pubs, restaurants etc) could certainly improve in their profits if the two bus companies extended their evening running schedule towards midnight, both up the valley and out to Healesville. Drink driving accidents in our area could also be decreased if the option to take the bus was there. Even at least from Thursday nights to Sunday nights!
 
I am a student at university and often take the 1.5 hour public transport trip rather than the 1 hour drive - my friends question me about this and I respond to them asking why I should drive (starting another engine) when the trains/buses are going anyway? Mass transportation is both (usually) more economic for the individual, as well as (always) better for the atmosphere. This kind of attitude can be promoted where public transport is sufficient. At present it is not quite sufficient in our area.
 
Of course the reinstatement of railway for public purposes would be much loved and used, but most likely not financially viable. (Although with an increasing tourism industry in our area it might be!)
But at least an expansion of the bus network and increase of services should be given us. Cooperation between bus services to create new routes could be really effective. Anything is possible, for example... a loop such as: Lilydale - Mt Evelyn - Wandin North - Coldstream - Lilydale. Obviously weighing up whats most feasible - my suggestion really implies that perhaps having the 2.5 main bus routes out this way could be mixed up a bit.
 
Anyway, thats my 2 cents.
 
Thanks,
 
Chris 


Email us your story (mtevelyn@gmail.com) and we will publish it here. Let us know what public transport is like in your local area currently, how it could be improved, if you have written to any newspapers, newsletters or politicians.

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