Article: Students welcome uni bus trial

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Students welcome uni bus trial

Students welcome uni bus trial

Patrick Williams | 26th July 2011

AFTER spending two hours on two buses, Sunrise Beach student Grace Lehman is in little mood to study when she finally reaches the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Sippy Downs campus this week reached out to its 1000 students and 40 staff who live in Noosa by offering a free trial bus service to provide express trips between The J at Noosa Junction and the university on weekdays.

Each one-way trip is expected to take 55 minutes, effectively halving the amount of time it takes to travel by bus between Noosa and Sippy Downs via Maroochydore.

Ms Lehman, an 18-year-old Bachelor of Arts in Design and Communication's student, said four hours commuting three times a week was taking a toll on her life.

"It eats away at all my spare time and it costs me about $8 just one way. It all adds up," she said.

"I find it hard to concentrate after travelling that long.

"It's hard to get there, then getting into mood for work.

"I'm excited for this bus.

"It's going to make things so much easier."

Vice-chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the university wanted to help make the use of public transport a more viable option for staff and students from Noosa.

"We hope this trial will show that there is strong support for a permanent express service to be provided between Noosa and USC," he said.

The special university shuttle service will operate until late November and will be available for those with USC identification cards.

There will be four services leaving The J at Noosa Junction each weekday at 6.50am, 10.50am, 3.50pm and 6.05pm.

Return buses to Noosa Junction will leave USC at 9.10am, 12.10pm, 5.10pm and 7.10pm.

[Fares_Fair]

 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

There is a marketing aspect to this move.  In providing this service, the University of the Sunshine Coast is aware that the Central Queensland University, which has a campus at Noosa, is set to double the number of students at the Noosa facility.  Ultimately, CQ University hopes to have 5000 students at its Noosa campus.  USC would like to also expand its student numbers with Noosa-based Australian and international tourists.

[Fares_Fair]

There is a marketing aspect to this move.  In providing this service, the University of the Sunshine Coast is aware that the Central Queensland University, which has a campus at Noosa, is set to double the number of students at the Noosa facility.  Ultimately, CQ University hopes to have 5000 students at its Noosa campus.  USC would like to also expand its student numbers with Noosa-based Australian and international tourists.

I wasn't aware of that aspect SW and did quietly wonder why the investment in the service.
Nothing like competition to get results ..

Regards,
Fares_fair.

[Stillwater]

This might bring you up to date, FF:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/05/31/university-plans-for-6000-at-noosa-campus-cquni/
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/05/27/university-pulls-out-of-noosa-civic-expansion/
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/04/20/noosa-uni-campus-growing-rapidly/

Noosa is also home to a large English language school and also has a TAFE campus.

All up, these developments represent a large number of young people desiring good PT services.  Another reason to boost Nambour-Cooroy-Noosa bus run.