25 Apr 2012: Brisbane: Council Elections 2012: More buses, more often!

[ozbob]

Media release 25 April 2012

Brisbane: Council Elections 2012: More buses, more often!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has welcomed commitments from both sides of politics for more buses (1). Public Transport is a bread-and-butter issue!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There is massive demand for public transport from three key public transport blackout 'no go zones' - the Centenary Suburbs, Bulimba and the Northwestern suburbs such as Eatonvale. There is also a need for more services on The bus Great Circle Line, which needs to be broken up and straightened to ensure speed, legibility, connectivity and reliability."

"RAIL Back On Track specifically singles out a BUZ service or 'BulimbaGlider' to Bulimba as a priority. This can be paid for using funds from the cancellation of the 'Maroon CityGlider' which is unnecessary and adds no new areas of high frequency mobility to the network. Brisbane City Council has dropped the ball in Bulimba, allowing huge development to occur without decent transport, and ignoring feedback calling for more public transport by local Bulimba residents submitted to Brisbane City Council's own neighbourhood planning team. Anyone who disagrees may avail themselves of the 230/235 and 232 timetables from the TransLink website - we think it is a 'must download' for all Lord Mayoral candidates because they will quickly see how services disappear after peak hour, run at bizarre frequencies on weekends and evenings or become one way services at certain times of the day. Also, a quick glance at the 232 map will reveal that it is a suburban safari tour."

"There also is a need for a bus priority lanes or similar on Coronation Drive and the Story Bridge, even if only during peak hour times. We pay some of the highest fares in the world, and also the highest subsidies in the world, so it doesn't make sense for Brisbane City Council to slow down its own bus fleet carrying its own ratepayers by refusing to have these priority treatments - slow buses cost more to operate, in both fuel and labor, which ultimately has to come out of taxpayer and ratepayer funds. It is a bit like shooting yourself in the foot! Slow buses contribute to congestion."

"We also ask candidates to commit to allowing the Brisbane bus network to be re-cast and reviewed. The system is full of 'legacy' routes - old services that have lost their purpose or are off on safari tours of the suburbs rather than providing decent service. Services need to be re-cast around a Core Frequent Network for frequency, simplicity, speed and legibility, with frequent feeder services to rail and bus stations. On certain routes, stops are too closely spaced and stops may need to be deleted to ensure competitiveness and decent speed against car travel."

"RAIL Back On Track again welcomes new buses to the network, and calls for immediate action to better support Brisbane's three public transport blackout 'no go zones' of Centenary, Bulimba and the Northwest. The Great Circle Line bus also needs to be fixed."

Reference:

1. Brisbane to get 360 new buses - whoever wins http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-to-get-360-new-buses--whoever-wins-20120424-1xiwj.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th April 2012

Re: Brisbane: Council Elections 2012: More buses, more often!

Greetings,

The sad reality of this Brisbane Council election campaign is that the real big issues have been ignored.  The failing public transport paradigm as evidenced by patronage slides,  a failing fare structure as evidenced by excessive fare increases leading to reducing fareboxes, the inefficiency of the bus and rail networks operating in competition are just glossed over.

The time has come for the Queensland Premier to act and bring public transport network planning under the direct control of a single agency.

Brisbane Transport is used by Brisbane City Council as a political tool in my opinion, rather than as a proper functioning part of an integrated public transport network.

The plan for the 'Maroon City Glider' is testament to that.  Middle and outer suburbs languish with mediocre bus services but Brisbane City Council thinks another duplication of high frequency inner bus services is far more important.  It is not, it is waste.

No better demonstration is needed as to why the Queensland Premier must act to sort out this festering mess.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 25 April 2012

Brisbane: Council Elections 2012: More buses, more often!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has welcomed commitments from both sides of politics for more buses (1). Public Transport is a bread-and-butter issue!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There is massive demand for public transport from three key public transport blackout 'no go zones' - the Centenary Suburbs, Bulimba and the Northwestern suburbs such as Eatonvale. There is also a need for more services on The bus Great Circle Line, which needs to be broken up and straightened to ensure speed, legibility, connectivity and reliability."

"RAIL Back On Track specifically singles out a BUZ service or 'BulimbaGlider' to Bulimba as a priority. This can be paid for using funds from the cancellation of the 'Maroon CityGlider' which is unnecessary and adds no new areas of high frequency mobility to the network. Brisbane City Council has dropped the ball in Bulimba, allowing huge development to occur without decent transport, and ignoring feedback calling for more public transport by local Bulimba residents submitted to Brisbane City Council's own neighbourhood planning team. Anyone who disagrees may avail themselves of the 230/235 and 232 timetables from the TransLink website - we think it is a 'must download' for all Lord Mayoral candidates because they will quickly see how services disappear after peak hour, run at bizarre frequencies on weekends and evenings or become one way services at certain times of the day. Also, a quick glance at the 232 map will reveal that it is a suburban safari tour."

"There also is a need for a bus priority lanes or similar on Coronation Drive and the Story Bridge, even if only during peak hour times. We pay some of the highest fares in the world, and also the highest subsidies in the world, so it doesn't make sense for Brisbane City Council to slow down its own bus fleet carrying its own ratepayers by refusing to have these priority treatments - slow buses cost more to operate, in both fuel and labor, which ultimately has to come out of taxpayer and ratepayer funds. It is a bit like shooting yourself in the foot! Slow buses contribute to congestion."

"We also ask candidates to commit to allowing the Brisbane bus network to be re-cast and reviewed. The system is full of 'legacy' routes - old services that have lost their purpose or are off on safari tours of the suburbs rather than providing decent service. Services need to be re-cast around a Core Frequent Network for frequency, simplicity, speed and legibility, with frequent feeder services to rail and bus stations. On certain routes, stops are too closely spaced and stops may need to be deleted to ensure competitiveness and decent speed against car travel."

"RAIL Back On Track again welcomes new buses to the network, and calls for immediate action to better support Brisbane's three public transport blackout 'no go zones' of Centenary, Bulimba and the Northwest. The Great Circle Line bus also needs to be fixed."

Reference:

1. Brisbane to get 360 new buses - whoever wins http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-to-get-360-new-buses--whoever-wins-20120424-1xiwj.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Interesting little exchange on Twitter

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

Michael Meloni ‏ @michaelmeloni

@Team_Quirk dear Team Quirk - Are you making any improvements to 475route through Rosalie? Very low frequency for inner city, even in peak

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

Team Quirk ‏ @Team_Quirk

Thanks @michaelmeloni - bus routes and frequency are handled by State Govt. New t'port minister @scottemersonmp would appreciate feeback.

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

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

@Team_Quirk @michaelmeloni @scottemersonmp Really? You could have fooled me ...lol

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

Does this mean the ' Maroon CityGlider ' is dead?

They must think the punters are silly ... 

[Golliwog]

That's my most hated comment by local councillors. We've complained a few times to our local member (Andrew Wines) about the 362, and each time he's replied with practically the same response as above. And then BCC turns around and proposes one of their Gliders, or that bus tunnel idea for under Adelaide St. Absolute crap. For what it's worth, Wines did recently-ish send out a letter with a petition you could sign about improving the 362. However, it was on the back of a letter which had been about something else entirely, and didn't even mention the petition for the 362 so I doubt he got much feedback on it.

It's either one way or the other. If they're putting forward ideas for stupid Cityglider's then they can also push for local bus improvements.

[#Metro]

Absolutely agree with Golliwog.

It's not BCC's problem, except when it comes to pet projects like Maroon CityGlider!

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

@Team_Quirk @michaelmeloni @scottemersonmp Why does each BT depot region have a 'Network planning officer'? Big savings could be made hey?

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

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

@Team_Quirk @michaelmeloni @scottemersonmp real shame you are not upfront with the public. More reason that network planning be given over.

Interesting little exchange on Twitter

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

Michael Meloni ‏ @michaelmeloni

@Team_Quirk dear Team Quirk - Are you making any improvements to 475route through Rosalie? Very low frequency for inner city, even in peak

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

Team Quirk ‏ @Team_Quirk

Thanks @michaelmeloni - bus routes and frequency are handled by State Govt. New t'port minister @scottemersonmp would appreciate feeback.

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

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

@Team_Quirk @michaelmeloni @scottemersonmp Really? You could have fooled me ...lol

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

Does this mean the ' Maroon CityGlider ' is dead?

They must think the punters are silly ...

[ozbob]

There is something really repugnant with governments of all levels of late.  More media spin merchants to peddle bull and cover backsides, waste resources, and hide incompetence, than real informed policies.  If they were honest they wouldn't need  all the spin merchants ...  might save enough dough to put on a Bulimba Buz and a partial duplication of the Sunny Coast  line!  LOL

[HappyTrainGuy]

What? Are you kidding me? There are plenty of buses out there! I don't know why people always get in a huff about it. Although.... its 4.45 and my last local bus departs in 35 minutes.... but I'm 35 minutes away from it......

[HappyTrainGuy]

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[Golliwog]

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