Free Gong Shuttle to become a paid service next year

The Mercury delivered the news to commuters at one of the city’s bus stops on Wednesday afternoon, with the majority up in arms over the shock announcement. 

“It’s bulls--t,” one woman said, after questioning whether Transport for NSW was serious about introducing standard Opal charges from January 29 next year.

Michael O’Connor, who catches the free bus from his Fairy Meadow home to the CBD twice a week, said a lot of people would be disadvantaged by the decision.

“It’s very sad for the people that use it, a lot of older people use it,” Mr O’Connor, 68, said. “It’s a shame that they’re going to stop it and charge people for it.

“It’s an outing for people, too, to come in here [the CBD]. If you’ve got to pay for it, people … won’t use it.”

Students and those on lower incomes will be among the hardest hit by the changes.

“I use it three or four times a week, at least, it [charging for the service] is a joke. I don’t know what I’m going to do about it,” a University of Wollongong student, who didn’t want to be named, said.

Donna Doniger, a pensioner and single mother-of-two, worried about how she would get around. Ms Doniger uses the free bus everyday because she has osteoporosis and can’t walk far.

Under standard Opal fares, adult Gong Shuttle passengers would have to pay between $2.15 and $4.61.

Even a few dollars was too much, Ms Doniger said.

“A couple of dollars is everything to me, that could go towards the bread,” she said.

“I pay $620 rent a week and I only get about $1000 a fortnight. I borrow money off my parents, so every little cent counts.”