Goonellabah resident Tony Lewis can’t speak highly enough of the State Government’s new on-demand bus service pilot program in the Goonellabah/Chilcotts Grass area, describing it as "life changing".

The trial bus service, operated by Buslines Group and launched on March 18, can be booked by anyone to take them from wherever they are in the service area to places of interest or transport hubs to connect with route bus services and back again.

Mr Lewis, 60, has found it so useful he has been actively promoting the service.

“I've taken brochures up to the 120 old age pensioners who go to the sports club in Goonellabah on Wednesdays because I want them to know about it because it's going to change their life as well,” he told the Lismore App.  

Mr Lewis, who suffers from debilitating back problems, said in the past he used bus services “as little as possible”.

“I really didn't look forward to standing around at the bus stop or struggling home with shopping,” he said. “I think the on-demand service the best thing since sliced bread.”

Now he uses the on-demand buses frequently to get to medical appointments, go shopping and visit friends.

“I look forward to having to go down to the hospital or go to places because you get picked up and dropped off and it gets you to the connecting buses on time,” he said. “And I don't have to walk 10 or 15 minutes up to the bus stop.

“It would be great if it did start earlier and finish later, but I'm more than happy with what I've got now. It's improved my quality of life.”

His only concern is that not enough people will use the service during the trial and the bus services will go back to how they were before..

“So I've actually told the drivers of the bus to try and get more advertising in the papers to fully explain it to people,” he said. “I think that would be a good idea because there's still people who just don't know about it.”

The on demand buses can be booked by phone by calling 13 26 69 or with the B-ConX app up to 45 minutes before the departure time and up to one week in advance (subject to availability).

The apps can be downloaded here:

• Apple App store
• Google Play

The hours of operation are:

• Monday to Friday: 6.45am–6pm
• Saturday: 7.45am–2.15pm
• Sunday: No service
• Public holidays: No service

For more information check the B-ConX website: https://bconx.com.au