UNE security puts late-night bus service ahead of the rest

May 07, 2007

The University of New England is providing security for the trial "Night Rider" bus service in Armidale. Last week, the University began supplying and funding a security guard to ride in the bus at all times. The late-night bus service is already one of the most successful in NSW – especially in a regional centre – according to UNE and Police representatives.

The Night Rider service grew from a cooperative approach between UNE, local late-night licensed premises, the Armidale Liquor Accord, Armidale Dumaresq Council, the Police, and the Roads and Traffic Authority.

"It was initially a State Government funded trial for Friday and Saturday nights," said UNE's Campus Services Manager with Facilities Management Services, Col McCallum. "Progressive assessments of the service resulted in a direct route to the University and an expansion to cover Thursday nights. There are committees on the campus, such as the Alcohol Awareness Advisory Committee, in which issues are tabled with student representatives present. That was how we identified the need for the Thursday night service."

"Adding security personnel to the service meets a genuine safety issue," Mr McCallum continued. "For example, if a young woman was to try to get off, by herself, on the way back to the University, the guard would be there, advising against it, with her safety in mind. For the three trips a night, for a period of just over two hours, a guard will be present on the bus at all times.

"The Night Rider leaves the Armidale CBD on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from a range locations and varying times which are advertised on posters. With regular local bus services ceasing around midnight, the Night Rider departs at about 12:15 am, 1 am, and 2 am. It is proving an ideal way of helping UNE students, out having a good time, to get home quickly and safely.

"The local Licensing Supervisor, Senior Constable Graham Watson, is responsible for the Night Rider," Mr McCallum said. "It has received State Government funding, and Edwards Coaches has been supportive with very reasonable rates."

"The support from UNE in funding the security presence has meant a major step forward," Senior Constable Watson said. "For a lot of the other late-night bus services in NSW, the cost of security is the biggest hurdle they face. To try and raise the funds needed to provide a secure bus service is just about impossible without the support of a major sponsor like UNE. This is probably one of the most successful Night Rider bus services running in the State at the moment."

"As a Liquour Accord project, it is a holistic approach to a range of needs and social issues," he said. "At the conclusion of this six-month trial period, we will analyse statistics to gauge the value of the service to the community and its sustainability."

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Col McCallum (left) and Senior Constable Graham Watson. It expands to include Jason Richey, UNE Site Supervisor for SNP Security.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at May 7, 2007 11:36 AM