Thank you to everyone who shared feedback through our Better Bus Services survey.
The results show strong support for a better-connected, more frequent, and more reliable bus network. Like us, you see better buses as a critical way to improve access to employment, education, services, and recreation.
That’s why we’re calling on the state government to deliver better bus services in Manningham.
Key findings:
- 89.7% of respondents currently use buses
- 80.6% walk to their local bus stop
- 70.9% want more frequent services
- 66.6% want improved network coverage
- 66.6% want more direct bus routes
- 53.7% support increased weekend services
- lack of services near home or work was identified as the biggest barrier to greater bus use.
Our community isn’t satisfied with bus services in Manningham
A majority (89.7%) of the 186 survey respondents use local bus services for commuting to work, attending social activities, shopping, and appointments.
Nearly half (44%) were dissatisfied with bus frequency, while only 21.5% were satisfied. Reliability was also a concern, with most respondents rating services as only ‘fair’ (34.9%) or ‘poor’ (23.6%).
Our community want to see improvement in 3 key areas:
- more frequent services (70.9%)
- improved network coverage (66.6%)
- more direct routes (66.6%).
Why our residents aren’t using buses
The most common barriers to people using buses more often was a lack of suitable service near home or work (26.4%), followed by long commute times (12.4%), and poor network connections (9%).
Similar results were reported by people who don’t currently use buses. More than a third (38.1%) don’t have a suitable service near their work or home, and one in 5 (19.04%) respondents cited ‘inconvenient travel time’.
Extended service hours and connections
Our community told us they want to see extended service hours, particularly on weekends, and improved access to key destinations across Melbourne and the eastern suburbs.
Popular destinations nominated for improved bus connections included:
- Doncaster and Bulleen Park and Ride facilities
- train stations including Heidelberg, Union, Eltham, and Rosanna stations
- Heidelberg
- Melbourne Airport
- Box Hill
- Ringwood
- universities and schools
- connections to the east of Manningham (Wonga Park, Warrandyte, Park Orchards and Donvale).
Better bus infrastructure
In addition to service improvements, respondents want better bus stop infrastructure.
People want to see more investment in lighting, shelter, and information displays – all of which received the lowest satisfaction ratings in our survey.
What’s next?
In the lead up to the 2026 Victorian election, we’re calling on all political parties to commit to better bus services for a better-connected Manningham. If you’d like to see better bus services in Manningham, reach out to your local candidate and let them know.
Thank you to everyone who shared feedback through our Better Bus Services survey.
The results show strong support for a better-connected, more frequent, and more reliable bus network. Like us, you see better buses as a critical way to improve access to employment, education, services, and recreation.
That’s why we’re calling on the state government to deliver better bus services in Manningham.
Key findings:
- 89.7% of respondents currently use buses
- 80.6% walk to their local bus stop
- 70.9% want more frequent services
- 66.6% want improved network coverage
- 66.6% want more direct bus routes
- 53.7% support increased weekend services
- lack of services near home or work was identified as the biggest barrier to greater bus use.
Our community isn’t satisfied with bus services in Manningham
A majority (89.7%) of the 186 survey respondents use local bus services for commuting to work, attending social activities, shopping, and appointments.
Nearly half (44%) were dissatisfied with bus frequency, while only 21.5% were satisfied. Reliability was also a concern, with most respondents rating services as only ‘fair’ (34.9%) or ‘poor’ (23.6%).
Our community want to see improvement in 3 key areas:
- more frequent services (70.9%)
- improved network coverage (66.6%)
- more direct routes (66.6%).
Why our residents aren’t using buses
The most common barriers to people using buses more often was a lack of suitable service near home or work (26.4%), followed by long commute times (12.4%), and poor network connections (9%).
Similar results were reported by people who don’t currently use buses. More than a third (38.1%) don’t have a suitable service near their work or home, and one in 5 (19.04%) respondents cited ‘inconvenient travel time’.
Extended service hours and connections
Our community told us they want to see extended service hours, particularly on weekends, and improved access to key destinations across Melbourne and the eastern suburbs.
Popular destinations nominated for improved bus connections included:
- Doncaster and Bulleen Park and Ride facilities
- train stations including Heidelberg, Union, Eltham, and Rosanna stations
- Heidelberg
- Melbourne Airport
- Box Hill
- Ringwood
- universities and schools
- connections to the east of Manningham (Wonga Park, Warrandyte, Park Orchards and Donvale).
Better bus infrastructure
In addition to service improvements, respondents want better bus stop infrastructure.
People want to see more investment in lighting, shelter, and information displays – all of which received the lowest satisfaction ratings in our survey.
What’s next?
In the lead up to the 2026 Victorian election, we’re calling on all political parties to commit to better bus services for a better-connected Manningham. If you’d like to see better bus services in Manningham, reach out to your local candidate and let them know.
