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8 May 2013: SEQ: Give a Beep Campaign has the wrong priorities

Started by ozbob, May 08, 2013, 03:27:08 AM

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ozbob

Media release 8 May 2013



SEQ:  "Give a Beep" Campaign has the wrong priorities

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 says the SEQ Council of Mayors "Give a Beep" Campaign (https://giveabeep.com.au) is out of touch and out of place. More focus on public and active transport is really needed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In the 21st century, no leader of a city or region today would seriously think that a road upgrade program would in any way or form deliver either faster or safer transport.  Across the world cities have learnt their lesson from trying to out build congestion by building roads (1,2,3,4), are investing in cycling, walkability, mixed used neighbourhoods, public transit and freight rail and reaping the rewards (5,6,7,8,9,10,11,16)."

"The cost of keeping our cities running is sending our Government's bankrupt with services continually being reduced to just maintain inefficient and ineffective infrastructure and a ever a growing financial burden being left to our children (12, 17). Further, the cost of road trauma is estimated at $40 billion a year (15)."

"Australia is today ranked as one of the fattest nations in the developed world with the prevalence of obesity in Australia more than doubling in the past 20 years (13). Active and public transport can play a significant role in reversing this trend (14)".

"The OECD's International Transport Forum, an international strategic think tank for transport policy has shortlisted 4 finalists for the their 2013 Transport Achievement Award from 11 semi-final programs all which have a walking, cycling or public transport focus. Not a Road Upgrade Program to be seen for miles (16)."

"Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, published their biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact - One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss -(17).

"Generation Y - those born in the 1980s and '90s - just don't seem to care as much about driving as the generations that came before them with Facebook, Twitter and text messages giving them new ways to connect. Freedom and identity can now be found in mobiles not motor cars (18)."

"Yet in SEQ our civil leaders are focused on building more roads, protecting inefficient and ineffective bus routes and pushing vital public transport projects onto the back burner.  The end result is declining public transport usage at a time when patronage is skyrocketing across the world (19)."

"If the SEQ Council of Mayors truly want to provide safer and faster transport then they need to throw away the transport ideologies of the 1960's and adopt transport planning approaches that focus more on cycling, walkability, mixed used neighbourhoods, public transit and freight rail."

Contact:

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

1.   The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: Evidence from US Cities - http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/aer.101.6.2616
2.   Why new roads do not alleviate congestion  - olafstorbeck.blogstrasse2.de/?p=1437
3.   Road to Nowhere or on Track to the Future - www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media Releases/11-08-09 Press Club Launch a Road to No-Where or on Track to the Future.pdf
4.   The Road to a Stand Still - theage.drive.com.au/roads-and-traffic/the-road-to-a-standstill-20130414-2hter.html
5.   The Economic Case for Rail Subsidies - http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/03/economic-case-rail-subsidies/5007/
6.   A New Movement for The New City: The Problem With Cars - http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/big-city/130786/new-movement-new-city-problem-cars?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hootsuite_tweets
7.   Fixing a Secret Cause of Urban Traffic - http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/02/delivery-trucks-secret-cause-urban-traffic/4653/
8.    Shift to Rail Could Alleviate Costs of Congestion - http://gorail.org/wp-content/uploads/UMR-GoRail1.pdf
9.   How to Make Suburbs Work Like Cities - http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2013/Feb/RiggsSuburbs#.URlkIgnHXXU.twitter
10.   Place Capital: Re-connecting Economy With Community - http://www.pps.org/blog/place-capital-re-connecting-economy-with-community/
11.   Benefits of Walkable Cities - http://www.icic.org/connection/blog-entry/blog-planning-to-walk
12.   Costs of Sprawl Series - http://www.originalgreen.org/blog/costs-of-sprawl---the-speed.html and http://www.originalgreen.org/blog/cheapways.html
13.   Obesity in Australia - http://www.modi.monash.edu.au/obesity-facts-figures/obesity-in-australia/
14.    Can public transport "solve" the obesity epidemic? - http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2010/10/14/can-public-transport-%E2%80%9Csolve%E2%80%9D-the-obesity-epidemic/
15.   Road Trauma is Breaking the Nation - http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3
16.    The OECD International Transport Forum, an international strategic think tank for transport policy has shortlisted 4 finalist for the their 2013 Transport Achievement Award - http://2013.internationaltransportforum.org/awards
17.   One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss - grist.org/list/one-mile-on-a-bike-is-a-42-economic-gain-to-society-one-mile-driving-is-a-20-loss
18.   Mobile rush means Gen Y is no longer reaching for the cars - http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/mobile-rush-means-gen-y-is-no-longer-reaching-for-the-cars-20130309-2fsej.html
19.   SEQ TransLink March 2013 Performance Data - http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2013-mar-snapshot.pdf
Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
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ozbob

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#Metro

Uuuummm, didn't we just have road upgrades a la go between bridge, clem 7, airport link... and they want MORE???
Negative people... have a problem for every solution. Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members.

Gazza

Quote from: BrizCommuter on May 08, 2013, 18:39:11 PM
Completely agree.

BrizCommuter doesn't "Give a Beep"
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/i-dont-give-beep.html
Maybe the implication is that if the roads were clearer the bus trip would be faster.

But BCC have removed bus lanes so they should share some of the blame.

#Metro

The website is a bloody disgrace, people even dressed up in cars. :fo:

BEEP OFF!!

Went to the council of mayors website, priorities for SEQ? Turf Grass!! http://www.seqmayors.qld.gov.au/Projects/Drought-Resistant-Grass.aspx
Negative people... have a problem for every solution. Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members.

Jonno

 So 0.01740625% of SEQ think more roads are the answer so far!!!

Fares_Fair

How do I tell them that "I don't give a beep!"
and here's why... these are the facts.

"One 1500 metre freight train can carry the load of 100 semi-trailers, leaving our roads safer and our air cleaner." so said Anthony Albanese MP,
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, in his Economic Stimulus Plan; A progress report (2011, p1).

Having said that, he did nothing whatsoever to address the issue of rail duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour, despite my submission to Infrastructure Australia in 2011 and my 2 requests for meetings - one via Peter Slipper MP and one directly. First was ignored and second was rejected.

An Arup Engineers report dated 2007 said there would be socio-economic disadvantage if the rail duplication did not go ahead.

The Qld Co-ordinator General, Keith Davies, gave the go ahead for the Landsborough to Nambour rail duplication project to proceed in November 2011.
The construction plans are drawn.
The corridor is dedicated.
It has a cost benefit ratio of 2.285, which the Hon Warren Truss MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, said was good.

Can anyone provide any Government reports saying the same things about the Bruce Highway from Caboolture to Caloundra?
Answer, no they cannot because there aren't any.


We have a solution to ease the crisis on the Bruce Highway, and it isn't off track - like this ridiculous SEQ Council of Mayors campaign.
Regards,
Fares_Fair


joninbrisbane

Too right FF.  It just does not make sense.  It's appealing to popular mindset instead of dealing with the underlying problem. 

Just like cold medicine.  It only hides the symptoms of a larger problem.

Jonno

At a embarrassing 575 votes it is not even popular!  We need to turn this into an embarrassing mistake and a clear sign they are Out of Touch!!!

Jonno

Hold onto your hats There was a 0.0033125% increase from yesterday! #outofcontrol

ozbob

Crikey, not real keen on the web site ..

Domain was registered by ANALOG DIGITAL GROUP PTY LTD, Pusher Brisbane (or Sydney), seems to be the outfit that has done the site .. http://www.pusher.com.au/

Would have cost a bit I reckon ... 

--> http://blog.pusher.com.au/?p=336  rail not even mentioned ... 

Quote'Give a Beep' launched today and featured on the ABC News (check out the video on the ABC News site here). The cheeky campaign by Pusher for the Council of Mayors is encouraging motorists to sign the "give a beep" petition to help fund 36 road projects by honking their horn or going to the campaign website. Brisbane Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, and Ispwich Mayor Paul Pisasale attended the launch of a giant roadside billboard today to support the campaign saying that the road funding situation is dire and there needs to be a firm commitment to funding ahead of the federal election. If you give a beep about better roads and transport in Australia read more in the article in the Courier Mail and give a beep now!

::) :P
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HappyTrainGuy

Quote from: ozbob on May 09, 2013, 19:03:45 PM
rail not even mentioned ... 

That must be part of the BLUUUUUUUURRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWHATTHEHELLWASTHATclicktyclack campaign.

Stillwater

The site is set up so that, in order to get into the detail, you have to 'beep'.  It is a con.

joninbrisbane

Exactly, I was 'conned' also!

ozbob

Lets look good.  I know, we will hire a slick PR firm and set up a 'cheeky' web site and lobby for roads.  Lets include some token rail to keep those informed and concerned individuals at RBoT on side ...

Sorry Quirky,   FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   :hc

:fp:
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ozbob

Sent to all outlets:

10th May 2013

Re: SEQ: "Give a Beep" Campaign has the wrong priorities

Greetings,

The 'Give a Beep' campaign is nothing but a political con trick in our opinion.

Put together by a PR firm - Pusher, traps visitors to the web site to beep!

The inclusion of rail in the Mayor's wish list is nothing but token in our opinion.  The real motivation is revealed here -->

-> http://blog.pusher.com.au/?p=336  rail not even mentioned ...

Quote'Give a Beep' launched today and featured on the ABC News (check out the video on the ABC News site here). The cheeky campaign by Pusher for the Council of Mayors is encouraging motorists to sign the "give a beep" petition to help fund 36 road projects by honking their horn or going to the campaign website. Brisbane Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, and Ispwich Mayor Paul Pisasale attended the launch of a giant roadside billboard today to support the campaign saying that the road funding situation is dire and there needs to be a firm commitment to funding ahead of the federal election. If you give a beep about better roads and transport in Australia read more in the article in the Courier Mail and give a beep now!

Ho humm ....

Best wishes
Robert

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

Twitter

Brisbane Times ‏@brisbanetimes 50s

The Gold Coast has left the Council of Mayors, the body used to lobby state and federal governments. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/gold-coast-raises-rates-leaves-council-of-mayors-20130620-2olnv.html#ixzz2WnII8u97 ...
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#Metro

Gold Coast told them to beep off. With the finances such a large part provided by BCC, I'm sure that there are more smaller councils that feel like they're paying for not much benefit.

There seems to be a lot of difference between the philosophy of BCC and that of GCCC.
Negative people... have a problem for every solution. Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members.

SurfRail

Quote from: ozbob on June 21, 2013, 07:29:21 AM
Twitter

Brisbane Times ‏@brisbanetimes 50s

The Gold Coast has left the Council of Mayors, the body used to lobby state and federal governments. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/gold-coast-raises-rates-leaves-council-of-mayors-20130620-2olnv.html#ixzz2WnII8u97 ...

And thank god for that!

Tom Tate might have some faulty priorities, but I have very little to fault on his transport priorities and goals (because he is largely taking advice from the sensible people who work there). 

The Council of Mayors is an utter con.  Hopefully Ipswich leaves again too.
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