The need for better seven-day buses in Greater Dandenong was recognised at the Public Transport Users Association Annual General Meeting, held in Melbourne on Thursday November 14.
The association’s annual Paul Mees Award for public transport advocacy went to Peter Parker and the FixDandyBuses campaign. This campaign succeeded in gaining government funding for an upgraded seven-day service on bus route 800 on Princes Highway, starting on Sunday 24 November.
Mr Parker thanked those who worked to make the seven-day route 800 bus a reality in his acceptance speech.
He said “Seven day public transport will benefit so many in Melbourne’s south-east” and tipped high patronage from day one of the upgraded service.
FixDandyBuses is continuing its advocacy, focussing on seven-day service on Dandenong North and Noble Park North buses 802, 804 and 814 as its next priority for the 2025 Victorian state budget.
PTUA President Tony Morton said that as a volunteer-run organisation with limited resources to run local campaigns, the PTUA was delighted to support campaigns such as FixDandyBuses that empowered people to help make the change they wanted to see in the world.
The Mees Award honours the late Dr Paul Mees OAM, a globally respected transport academic and activist, and president of the PTUA from 1992 to 2001. The PTUA, founded in 1976, is Victoria’s leading advocacy group for public transport passengers and sustainable transport policy reform.
Media coverage: Australasian Bus & Coach – FixDandyBuses campaign recognised in awards ceremony