As highlighted in a study released last week, most of Melbourne lacks frequent public transport services.
Frequency is often overlooked, but is probably the number one factor in convincing people to get out of their cars and onto public transport. If you have a choice of driving or a public transport service every 30, 40 or 60 minutes, most people will choose to drive every time. This is particularly the case where you can’t time your trip around the timetable, such as making a connection from another service.
The map above shows weekend services that run every 15 minutes or better. As you can see, if you’re making a trip on inner-suburban trams, or along the Dandenong, Frankston or Ringwood rail corridors, frequent may be available, there are frequent services.
For other trips around Melbourne, you may have a long wait ahead of you.
In fact on weekends, just 9.5% of services run every 15 minutes. It’s a bit better on weekdays, but even in peak hours vast areas have no frequent services.
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