Article: Commute numbers increase

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX 12 June 2008 page 5 not online

Commute numbers increase

Commute numbers increase

Ursula Heger and Julia Phipps

The ever-increasing cost of petrol has fuelled a rise in commuter numbers on Brisbane?s bus and rail network.

TransLink figures obtained by mX show the average patronage of buses and trains rose markedly when the price of fuel spiked, except during university holidays, when recreational travel is lower.

In January, when the price crude oil hit the $US100 a barrel mark and the $1.50-a-litre mark for unleaded petrol in Queensland was being discussed, public transport use increased 6 per cent.
In February when the average cost of fuel dropped from $1.31 to $1.28, patronage decreased slightly to almost 12 million trips.

Spokesman for the commuter group Rail Back Track Robert Dow said transport services need to be improved and the Go Card fixed before overcrowding worsened.

?They are struggling at the moment with overcrowding,? he said.

?We think that there is a strong argument for the government to introduce the new trains as soon as they are finished trials, rather than in September when the new timetabling comes in.?

Overcrowding on Brisbane?s buses also worsened last month with 1182 buses registering as too full to pick up passengers ? 182 higher than April.

[ozbob]

Thanks mX for a very significant article. 

Here is a factual link between rising fuel prices and the impacts we have all predicted on our public transport asset.  It makes our efforts all the more urgent.

[stephenk]

This article tells us pretty much what everyone (except for the Bligh government) was expecting! High cost of petrol = Less cars on road = More people using public transport.

The news stories about Brisbane dropping in the liveability list is also significant. European Cities which did well such as Vienna have a high population density (i.e most people live in flats), and has an excellent public transport network (metros and trams every 2-3mins). Unfortunately Brisbane has a very low population density, and poor public transport. Maybe the Queensland Government and BCC need a good look at sustainable city planning!!!

[ButFli]

mX and the like must love you ozbob. You basically create content for them.

Are you on the payroll? :p

[ozbob]

Wish I was   

They do give the commuter issues a  good run now and again, which is appreciated.  I suppose the core readership are commuters so makes sense.

I have seen the Melbourne mX too, similar publication.

[dwb]

I'd put some serious money on the number of bus full services SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASING for JUNE, may might also be upto 1/3 lower from April thanks to the INB opening and significant increases in efficiency in some routes such as the 385 which consistently suffered overcrowding due to many scheduled services not running due to getting stuck in congestion, now extra services with the same number of buses.  THat is unless the number of passengers has increased in the same time.... although I would think it would take a month or two for the additional capacity to be "taken advantage of".

[ozbob]

That would be good dwb if there is a fall.  I have noticed some anecdotal reports of loading problems at KGS at peak on some routes.  If fuel continues its climb in price there might be a lot more passengers. 

Hopefully some innovations on the go card will be forthcoming shortly which might encourage off peak, early peak travel and so forth so spreading the load.

Cheers
Ozbob