19 June 2010: SEQ: Go card give away misses the bus

[ozbob]

Media Release 19 June 2010

SEQ:  Go card give away misses the bus

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the announcement of the go card give-away (1). It is disappointing though that registered users are locked out of the free distribution.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last October when announcing the new fare structure for public transport in south-east Queensland there was a commitment to a distribution of 400,000 go cards with a $10 credit on registration (2).  Ideally those cards would have been best distributed when the new fares impacted last January.  Due to the huge fare increases for paper relative to go card many commuters have been forced to take up a go card already and will now miss out, particularly if they have registered their go card."

"According to the announcement on the TransLink web site the planned distribution of go cards with $10 credit is only for people who do not already have a go card. People who have not registered their go card will be able to seek out one of the free go cards as there is no way of knowing if they have one already. Registered users should have been given a bonus $10 credit as well in recognition of their role as the 'trial' group for the go card, use and online system.  Many registered go card users have spent a lot of money on phone calls in chasing fixed fare reimbursements, and have lost a lot of time as well. In many cases they have 'worn' fixed fare fines as it was either too costly or too difficult time wise to chase reimbursement."

"We applaud the fact that TransLink will be keeping around 30,000 go cards for distribution at Go ready education sessions for Seniors, Pensioners and others."

"It is very disappointing though that the core user group for the go cards; registered users, have been disregarded with this free go give-away.  This is likely to rebound on the efficiency of the distribution of the go cards to new users as many people will now be motivated to chase a free go card for reimbursement for their additional expenditures as result of using the go card as a registered user."

References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/gocardgiveaway.php

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2877.msg14961#msg14961

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3979.0

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail letters to the editor 26th June 2010 page 79

Go card users deserve reward



Well said Jan Ide.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th June 2010

Greetings,

A letter to editor in today's Courier Mail (Go card users deserve reward) highlights the general feelings of go card users to the free go giveaway commencing this  Monday, 28th June.

We have also received a lot of similar feedback.

Great shame that public transport users have again been belted.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

============================

Media Release 19 June 2010 re-released 26 June 2010

SEQ:  Go card give away misses the bus

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the announcement of the go card give-away (1). It is disappointing though that registered users are locked out of the free distribution.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last October when announcing the new fare structure for public transport in south-east Queensland there was a commitment to a distribution of 400,000 go cards with a $10 credit on registration (2).  Ideally those cards would have been best distributed when the new fares impacted last January.  Due to the huge fare increases for paper relative to go card many commuters have been forced to take up a go card already and will now miss out, particularly if they have registered their go card."

"According to the announcement on the TransLink web site the planned distribution of go cards with $10 credit is only for people who do not already have a go card. People who have not registered their go card will be able to seek out one of the free go cards as there is no way of knowing if they have one already. Registered users should have been given a bonus $10 credit as well in recognition of their role as the 'trial' group for the go card, use and online system.  Many registered go card users have spent a lot of money on phone calls in chasing fixed fare reimbursements, and have lost a lot of time as well. In many cases they have 'worn' fixed fare fines as it was either too costly or too difficult time wise to chase reimbursement."

"We applaud the fact that TransLink will be keeping around 30,000 go cards for distribution at Go ready education sessions for Seniors, Pensioners and others."

"It is very disappointing though that the core user group for the go cards; registered users, have been disregarded with this free go give-away.  This is likely to rebound on the efficiency of the distribution of the go cards to new users as many people will now be motivated to chase a free go card for reimbursement for their additional expenditures as result of using the go card as a registered user."

References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/gocardgiveaway.php

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2877.msg14961#msg14961

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Another disappointed punter, letter to the editor Courier Mail 28th June 2010 page 26

Free ride on community

[ozbob]

Follow up sent to all outlets:

29th June 2010

Greetings,

There is an important point concerning the 'free go card' distribution that most commentators have missed.  The initial commitment by the Deputy Premier and Minister was for $10 credit for travel on REGISTRATION.   Registered users moved on when it become obvious that the original commitment for go card distribution was not going to happen to support the changeover last January.  Many current users have incurred a lot of additional personal costs using the go card.  Time and charges for phone calls in seeking fixed fare adjustments have been considerable.  It would have been a simple thing to acknowledge the registered go card users for their loyalty and patience by giving them the credit which was clearly indicated would be for registered users.  No, flawed logic and panic prevails.

The current distribution is nothing but an attempt to 'buy' more go card users, only two thirds of all trips are on the go card at the moment.  This is amazing considering the price differential for paper relative go card fares, and highlights why a decent go card fare structure is required. The plan by government is to withdraw all paper tickets at the end of this year, so we have seen the current users pushed aside and hence the distribution with a bonus $10 now (current go card users are excluded).  It would have been much more effective if the original plan of $10 on registration was stuck with.  This would have helped ensure the cards went to genuine public transport users.  Much anecdotal evidence already that most of these current free go cards will be used and put aside.  A disappointing waste.

The amount of money wasted on go card advertising is also concerning.  Promises of extra services have not been met.  It is little wonder that the community is becoming increasingly concerned and frustrated.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Follow up to all outlets:

7th July 2010

Greetings,

Media reports of the slow go card distribution just further highlights our point of view with respect to this distribution.  As we suggested in media release (below) SEQ:  Go card give away misses the bus acknowledging the contribution by the present registered go card users, in conjunction with the belated go card distribution would have been a much smarter public relations tool, and in time actually drive greater uptake.  Most regular public transport users have a go card.  The slow take up just confirms why it is necessary to fix the fare structure for the go card to include capping and periodical fare enhancements.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
26th June 2010

Greetings,

A letter to editor in today's Courier Mail (Go card users deserve reward) highlights the general feelings of go card users to the free go giveaway commencing this  Monday, 28th June.

We have also received a lot of similar feedback.

Great shame that public transport users have again been belted.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

============================

Media Release 19 June 2010 re-released 26 June 2010
 
SEQ:  Go card give away misses the bus

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the announcement of the go card give-away (1). It is disappointing though that registered users are locked out of the free distribution.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last October when announcing the new fare structure for public transport in south-east Queensland there was a commitment to a distribution of 400,000 go cards with a $10 credit on registration (2).  Ideally those cards would have been best distributed when the new fares impacted last January.  Due to the huge fare increases for paper relative to go card many commuters have been forced to take up a go card already and will now miss out, particularly if they have registered their go card."

"According to the announcement on the TransLink web site the planned distribution of go cards with $10 credit is only for people who do not already have a go card. People who have not registered their go card will be able to seek out one of the free go cards as there is no way of knowing if they have one already. Registered users should have been given a bonus $10 credit as well in recognition of their role as the 'trial' group for the go card, use and online system.  Many registered go card users have spent a lot of money on phone calls in chasing fixed fare reimbursements, and have lost a lot of time as well. In many cases they have 'worn' fixed fare fines as it was either too costly or too difficult time wise to chase reimbursement."

"We applaud the fact that TransLink will be keeping around 30,000 go cards for distribution at Go ready education sessions for Seniors, Pensioners and others."

"It is very disappointing though that the core user group for the go cards; registered users, have been disregarded with this free go give-away.  This is likely to rebound on the efficiency of the distribution of the go cards to new users as many people will now be motivated to chase a free go card for reimbursement for their additional expenditures as result of using the go card as a registered user."

References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/gocardgiveaway.php

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2877.msg14961#msg14961

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org