RESIDENTS are lobbying to extend the Epping NightRider bus to Whittlesea’s outer north suburbs, in the latest move to improve district public transport.
Doreen Residents’ Action Group president Brian Gloury said the early-hours bus should be extended to South Morang, Mernda, Doreen and Whittlesea.
Young people coming from the city to the outer northern suburbs in the early morning hours had to use expensive taxis or rely on lifts, he said.
Mr Gloury said a Department of Transport official said an expanded service would be considered depending on the level of community support.
The group has posted its campaign on social networking site Facebook, attracting more than 100 “likes”.
Supporters include Emily Opteynde, 16, of Doreen, who as a teenager has only been to the city once with friends for a Saturday night out because it was too difficult to get home.
Miss Opteynde said with that trip she had to rely on her mother taking her to the Diamond Creek station and picking her up.
She said the last bus left South Morang for Mernda about 9.30pm on Saturdays.
“It is more than the novelty of going to the city,” she said.
“In Doreen we don’t have much. We have the Mernda pub and an Indian restaurant.”
