After taking his first trip on the new on-demand buses in Sydney's inner west, Breakfast Point resident Michael Ward is keen to ride on them again.

But he admits his wife will take more convincing. "My wife is dubious of them - she has got the car. You have to go online and it all sounds complicated to her," he said.

Breakfast Point retiree Michael Ward tries an on-demand bus for the first time. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Therein lies the challenge for the fledging world of on-demand buses in NSW.

The latest figures show patronage in 11 trial areas progressively rolled out since late last year has been strong in Sydney's eastern suburbs and Manly, the northern beaches and the Sutherland Shire, but weak in other parts of the city such as Wetherill Park and Bankstown.