Pensioner Has to Pay $80 for Taxi to Get to Local Shops

It is from 702 ABC Sydney.

The topic is petrol prices.

Godwin Eddie Bognet looks for the cheapest fuel before filling up his car.

Public transport in Mount Druitt is a problem for residents like Godwin Eddie Bognet.

Godwin Eddie Bognet wants to use public transport, but it is not reliable.

The timetable says buses come every half hour, but they often do not.

Godwin Eddie Bognet says people are willing to help, but it is getting expensive.

Godwin Eddie Bognet's family uses public transport when they can, but they need a car for some things.

On Mondays, Godwin Eddie Bognet drives boys to a youth group.

Last week, Godwin Eddie Bognet was the only one who could drive the boys.

People are feeling bad about saying no to helping because of the cost.

Godwin Eddie Bognet is also feeling the effects of higher fuel prices.

He is only putting in as much fuel as he can afford.

Godwin Eddie Bognet is trying not to fill up his tank.

The mayor of Blacktown, Brad Brunting, says residents are giving up leisure activities to afford fuel.

The mayor says people in Mount Druitt rely on good public transport, but it is not there.

There is a high rate of bus cancellations.

Bus cancellations in Mount Druitt are five times higher than the Sydney average.

A report found that public transport in Mount Druitt does not meet the community's needs.

Residents in Mount Druitt have lower incomes and are less likely to have a car.

Public transport in Mount Druitt is not well planned.

The government is spending money on facilities, but not on transport.

The government is not providing the transport that people need.

Transport for NSW says bus cancellation rates are better than the Sydney average.

Rosalie Bozaniz feels stressed when she uses public transport.

Rosalie Bozaniz waited two hours for a bus that never came.

Rosalie Bozaniz got angry and upset.

Rosalie Bozaniz has limited mobility and gets cramps if she stands for long.

She gave up waiting for the bus and called her son for a lift.

Rosalie Bozaniz values her independence and does not like to rely on others.

Standing for a long time is a nightmare for Rosalie Bozaniz.

The report found that 21% of services have a wait time of one hour or more.

No services in the area have a frequency of every 15 minutes.

The 758 bus that Rosalie Bozaniz uses has a complicated route.

The complexity of the route makes it hard for residents to use.

Transport for NSW says public transport is frequent in the area.

On-demand bus services are needed.

On-demand bus services would be helpful for John Harris, who has emphysema.

John Harris pays a taxi $80 to go to the shopping centre.

John Harris pays a neighbour $20 for a trip to the shops and then takes a taxi home.

John Harris wants to pay something towards his neighbour's petrol.

John Harris feels annoyed about paying $60-$80 for a trip when his gold opal card is capped at $2.50.

John Harris does not like relying on others to get around.

John Harris could travel all day on public transport for $2.50, but he cannot get to his local shops.

Sometimes John Harris cannot afford to pay for his cab fares.

John Harris has to limit the food he buys.

There are calls for a shuttle bus and a metro extension.

A community shuttle bus could help residents get to the train station.

A community shuttle bus would allow residents to connect with each other and with services.

Rosalie Bozaniz thinks a community shuttle bus would be wonderful.

The mayor has been advocating for the Sydney Metro to extend to St Marys.

The mayor thinks the metro extension would be good for the community.

Transport for NSW says there is continued investment in public transport in the area.

A new bus route will start in July, linking Mt Druitt Station to the airport.

Dr Iveson says public transport improvements are important for the area's residents.

Dr Iveson says people in the area are already struggling.

Interest rates and petrol prices are going up.

In an ideal world, people would use public transport to save money.