Minister says Onchan bus service meets demand

Wed, 09 Nov 2016

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK

The Infrastructure Minister insists public transport links with Onchan are appropriate to demand.

Ray Harmer told this week's sitting of the House of Keys that there isn't enough demand to bring in more bus services for the village.

However, the Minister said he will consider trialing a demand-responsive service for areas with fewer passengers, like the one currently being tested in Bride and Andreas.

To justify a bus service, the Department needs at least 12 people to use a route each hour, with rural areas in Onchan like Groudle and King Edward Road often falling below that level.

The discussion came following a question from Onchan MHK Rob Callister, who says it's unfair that some residents have to take two or three buses to get to the hospital, and called for a community bus service to be trialed.