Changes to the proposed bus network in Canberra won't work unless existing infrastructure is significantly upgraded, according to a community council.
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In a submission to the government, the Weston Creek Community Council argued streets surrounding bus interchanges have been under pressure due to a lack of park and ride services.
Weston Creek Community Council chair Tom Anderson said increasing rapid bus services as part of the network changes would require park and ride areas at the Weston group centre and Cooleman Court to be significantly upgraded.
"There are only 10 park and ride parking spaces at the present time at the centre. Parking at Cooleman Court has been under pressure since 2009," Mr Anderson said
"Starting rapid services at Cooleman Court without the infrastructure has to potential to have a large negative economic impact on the centre and the businesses located there."
A 2009 Roads ACT survey found existing parking at Cooleman Court was full, and while 76 more spaces have been introduced, Mr Anderson said parking around park and ride areas is still at capacity.
"To run such rapid services from Cooleman Court requires a major increase in park and ride parking. It cannot be taken from the current parking," he said.
"The increased services does look good on paper, but it's a question of how people utilise it."
Similar park and ride areas on Cotter Road are already full on weekdays, with its 45 spaces all used up on a regular basis, according to the community council chair.
With some local bus routes being scaled back in the area due to the changes, Mr Anderson said it would drive more people to park and ride areas in order to catch buses and increase the strain.
"The suburban route only runs hourly, and so commuters could spend 50 or so minutes waiting for the suburban bus to take them home on that last stage," he said.
"This is only likely to further discourage travel by bus."
A Transport Canberra spokesman said it regularly monitors park and ride services in Canberra for usage and is looking into upgrading existing facilities.
A review into park and ride demand across Canberra will be conducted in coming months, which includes assessing current sites and scoping for future areas.
"Transport Canberra carefully plans the location of new park and ride facilities and when to upgrade existing facilities to support its integrated public transport network," the spokesman said.
"Customer feedback has shown that older users choose park and ride more often when it's serviced by an all-day route to access to city to avoid the hassle of parking."
