'Unsafe and late': What it's like catching a bus in this regional city

Catching a bus in the regional Australian city of Cairns has become an experience marked by delays, cancellations, and safety concerns, leaving some residents feeling stranded and vulnerable. Melissa Connolly, a grandmother who relied on public transport after losing her car, described being left stranded for two hours after missing her bus in the suburb of Earlville as night fell.

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The 50 cent bus fares were quite appealing and I thought it was great to lower our carbon footprint.

Her ordeal was compounded when her phone battery died and taxis were scarce. She eventually walked about 5 kilometers before finding a cab. Days later, police charged individuals over alleged stabbings and assaults at the very same bus stop where she had been waiting. "I just thought I'd dodged a bullet," Ms. Connolly stated, adding, "It was very unsafe for a woman to sit at that bus stop. Some people don't have a choice."

Commuters at the Cairns City bus interchange echoed these sentiments, describing a network that is sometimes functional but frequently plagued by late buses, service cancellations, and routes that don't reach all suburbs. The Passi family, who use buses daily with their young son, expressed worry about anti-social behavior at stops. "This is what we deal with every day," Louisa Passi said, as shouting erupted nearby while they waited.

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I just thought I'd dodged a bullet. It was very unsafe for a woman to sit at that bus stop. Some people don't have a choice.

Far North police acknowledge that buses and bus stops are considered "hotspot areas" and are subject to regular, high-visibility patrols aimed at preventing crime. Data from the Queensland Police shows 235 alleged offenses around the Earlville interchange precinct in six months, including 20 assaults. Police collaborate with CCTV operators and transport providers to respond to incidents.

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This is what we deal with every day.

Rowan Gray, president of Better Transport Queensland, noted that public transport use declines outside major cities, and women in regional areas report feeling less safe using it alone after dark compared to metropolitan areas. He emphasized that regional public transport investment has not kept pace with population growth or the understanding of what constitutes a liveable city. "What makes a public transport network that people don't just catch when they have no other option, but a public transport network people want to catch?" Gray asked, stressing that reliability is crucial for increasing ridership and, consequently, bus safety.

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And it really hasn't kept up with the shift in … understanding of what makes a liveable city. What makes a public transport network that people don't just catch when they have no other option, but a public transport network people want to catch?