Under the program, a nine-seater vehicle picks residents up from outside pubs between midnight and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, and drops them home for a gold coin donation.

“It’s been a bit slow to start, but we expected that because it was a new service, [and the] first time it’s been done in Lithgow,” council spokesperson Matthew Johnson said

Now six weeks into its seven week trial period, the program’s slow adoption rate is leading many to question its effectiveness.

Ray Smith is the licensee of the Court House Hotel, one of few pubs in Lithgow with a 24 hour licence.

He would like to see the service become permanent, but only if it becomes more popular.

“I think it’s a good service, but very few are using it,” he said.

“Even when we’re having a peak period it’s not really carrying a full bus.”

Resident Ron Murray said the infrequency is a problem.

“If a taxi’s not out the front when you walk out the front, are you going to stick around for it,” he said.

The scheme was implemented in response to the findings of the council’s Crime Prevention Committee, which suggested the provision of late night transport would reduce the amount of alcohol-related crime, including violence and vandalism.

Mr Johnson said it was too early to tell if the service was doing that.

He said crimes are more likely to be committed when people are stranded in the CBD and end up walking home from the pubs, being intoxicated, and causing a bit of mayhem on the way.

Deputy Director of the Sydney Institute of Criminology Garner Clancey agrees.

“A common problem in many areas is the lack of a coordinated transport plan to safely disperse patrons of the late night economy.

“The provision of transport holds the promise of reducing the time people spend waiting for taxis, which has the potential to impact positively on assault and malicious damage to property offences,” he said.

The trial will run for another six weeks in summer, when pub patronage is higher, before council decides whether to permanently adopt the scheme.

Mr Johnson said council could not fund the service on its own indefinitely.

“If something like this was going to run long-term then it would have to be supported by the licensees and the Liquor Accord,” he said.

“The service is going to have to be self sustaining.”

The trial period is now being assessed.