Residents on both sides of the lake have criticised the ACT government's new bus routes, saying they have been disadvantaged by the changes.
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From October 7, "Expresso" buses from Belconnen will not go to Barton and instead terminate in the city, with people heading to the parliamentary triangle having to transfer buses.
In Narrabundah, the government cancelled Route 5 and added a new rapid service called Route 6, and amended Route 4.
Residents in the southern Canberra suburb say the loss of Route 5 means trips to Woden or the hospital will mean a longer walk to access the new rapid route, or a much longer trip on two buses.
They say trips to the city will also be longer.
"We're being 'thrown under the bus'," said Bronwyn Shirley, who sits on the Old Narrabundah Community Council.
But Ms Shirley said while the new rapid service was welcomed, residents were frustrated by the route, which did not include lower Narrabundah. Those residents would have to catch another bus to connect with the rapid service. "The rapid's rapid but the 4 isn't so there is much point ... it just doesn't work," says Ms Shirley.
The residents have offered the government a compromise - to include old Narrabundah on the new Route 6, but with fewer stops.
On Sunday, they were yet to hear back on the offer.
She said while the government was encouraging public transport, "two buses instead of one bus won't encourage anybody."
Narrabundah residents also point out the suburb is home to many older people who are dependent on public transport.
Ms Shirley said she was unaware of any consultation with the community before the changes were made.
Residents say the Narrabundah Early Childhood Centre, clients of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and Narrabundah Medical Practice on Kootara Crescent will also be affected by the route changes to come into effect on October 7.
Higgins resident Aimee, who asked her last name not be used, called the new timetable a "disaster" for Belconnen, particularly those in the west.
She said the peak hour "Expresso" buses she catches to work in the parliamentary triangle - where the ACT government introduced pay parking in 2014 - will now terminate in the city.
The connecting buses come every 15 minutes, which she says could result in commutes of over 90 minutes in some cases.
She said she had a car but preferred the bus, while in the area "there's plenty of people who don't have the choice."
She worried public transport in west Belconnen, where routes tended to already be inefficient, was going to get worse.
She has called on the government to reconsider the change. "It doesn't seem like they're serious about encouraging people to take public transport," she said.
She was also unaware of any community consultation.
A spokesman for the Minister for Transport and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris, defended the changes, saying they "will result in an overall improvement for passengers across the network."
"While changes can be disruptive for some passengers, the new network will provide higher frequency services and better connections right across the city," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the new Narrabundah Route 4 had been adjusted to complement the new rapid service in the suburb.
"The Route 4 will run every 30 minutes throughout the day during the week. This is a high level of service relative to other areas of Canberra (where service is hourly for example)."