Ministerial Statement: go card - easy come, easy go

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
15/11/2008

go card - easy come, easy go

Public transport users are showing what they think of the go card in the only way that counts - by switching to go card.

Minister for Transport John Mickel today noted a sharp increase in go card users while unveiling a comprehensive education and awareness campaign for the quick, convenient and cashless ticketing system.

"South East Queenslanders are leading the way in embracing this new technology and we have already achieved our mid 2009 target for the number of go cards being used," Mr Mickel said.

"The go card is a great success, with take up rates well ahead of what we expected, however we want all commuters to enjoy the benefits the card offers.

"We recognise that there are still some public transport users who are not comfortable with the new technology which is why we are embarking on this new education campaign.

"Our aim is to educate new users about the new technology, dispelling the myths and to demonstrate how the go card is a truly integrated, flexible ticket - allowing seamless travel across bus, train and ferry services on the TransLink network."

Mr Mickel said since the new go card fare structure was introduced on August 4 this year, go card users have been saving between 20 and 35 per cent whenever they travel on a TransLink bus, train and ferry services.

"The new fare structure is proving to be a winner with public transport users and the go card milestones just keep coming," Mr Mickel said.

"On the Friday before the new fare structure was introduced, 52,700 journeys were made using a go card.

"Since then, that figure has more than doubled, with 125,000 journeys made on Thursday, representing the highest number of journeys made on a day since the go card was introduced.

"During the same time period, the total number of go cards in circulation jumped from 97,000 to 194,000, more than doubling."

Mr Mickel said more than $31 million has been loaded on to the cards and more than 10 million journeys have been undertaken since the system's debut early this year.

"The figures prove the go card system is strong and is continuing to grow," Mr Mickel said.

"South East Queensland is just the second Australian public transport system to successfully roll out this technology and it is by far the largest network.

"In fact, the go card network covers more than 10, 000 square kilometres. This is six and a half times the size of London's Oyster Card network.

"The go card puts the TransLink network at the forefront of public transport ticketing technology in Australia."

"The go card makes using public transport quicker and easier, with passengers no longer needing to carry change or waste time queuing for tickets," Mr Mickel said.

For further information about the go card, please visit www.translink.com.au/go or call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

-Ends-

15th November 2008


As a part of the campaign, major billboards displaying the go card "whoosh" will be located in Darra (Ipswich Rd), Virginia (Sandgate Rd), Capalaba (Old Cleveland Rd), South Brisbane (cnr Stanley St and Annerley Rd) and on platforms at Central, Lawnton, Bundamba and Kingston railway stations.

Key Figures (as at 13th November 2008):

Total go cards in circulation: 194,000

Total number of journeys made on the go card: 11,510,000

Total amount loaded on go card: $31,460,000

Highest number of go card journeys made in one day: 125,000

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

[ozbob]

A user and potential user go card education campaign is something we have long called for.  Great to see something happening.  The go card is convenient and promises a lot for the improved efficiency of our public transport system.  On rail I have found it very good generally, apart from the well described issues with the screens and hit and miss beeps and so forth.  There is a learning curve with the go card and good see that acknowledged.  Some folks have no issues, others have had to give it away. 

There is nothing on the TransLink web site about this campaign at the moment hopefully something will appear in due course.

Permanent go card information and help booths at KGS Bus Station and Central station might be worthwhile.

A bit of latitude with fixed fares for new users might greatly assist uptake as well.  This is something we have raised before.

Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 November 2008

SEQ:  Go card education and awareness campaign very welcome!

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 today by Transport Minister John Mickel of the Go card education and awareness campaign.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Go card is generally very convenient and promises much for the improved efficiency of public transport on the TransLink network if there is a high uptake."

"The go card education and awareness campaign announcement today is every welcome. We have previously suggested that such a campaign is needed (1)."

"There is a learning curve for many new public transport go card users and it is good to see that publicly acknowledged.  There are some issues with Go card equipment and RAIL Back On Track would like to see some refund latitude given to new Go card users if they receive a number of fixed fare charges during their first month or so of use."

"We look forward to further innovative fares being introduced in time for the Go card."

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=429.0

Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[dwb]

Apparently "education and awareness" means advertising.

I'm not against government advertising. Corporations use it to great effect and there is no reason government shouldn't as well.  BUT I do have an issue with them not calling a spade a spade.

If it were truly about education and awareness they would
- install gates and bus style readers in a prominent public place and let people "test use" the system, perhaps at the transit information centre
- would clearly explain the pros and cons of the system and how it calculates fares, and
- have staff on hand to promote people to switch to the card in places that suit them, for instance Adelaide St in the afternoon peak

Instead however they are continuing with the false and misleading "at least 20% cheaper" slogan, promoting a lack of understanding of how fares are calculated and doing little about telling users how to use the system right.

rghhhh

[dwb]

oh, ps, I forgot to say I just saw the ad on tv. Channel 10 during the Simpsons, bout 615pm Tuesday 18th.

[ozbob]

Too true Dwb,  I am waiting for the campaign to start!  There was the launch and now nothing ...

Anyone seen or heard anything?

Maybe the big wet has slowed the go down?

[ozbob]

I posted before your second post. 

I hope there is a bit more than ads!  Did it say at least 20% cheaper?  Hope not because the complaint with the OFT on this point is still proceeding.

[dwb]

Yes both the ad and the latest press release by the minister still refer 'go card at least 20% cheaper' which at the very least, even if not technically false and misleading advertising is confusing... proven by the point that no-body knows what it is compared to. It certainly isn't monthlies, nor weeklies, nor 10 trips, nor dailies, nor off peak dailies, nor QR quarterly tickets, nor QR student tickets, NOR EVEN ITSELF PRE AUG4!!!

That is a whole lot of nors just there!

[K_Nikora]

Plenty of go card staff around since the launch of the new campaign. Spotted helping some users out today at South Brisbane and also saw them the other morning at the cultural centre busway. Although the collateral appears to be the same, at least the presence means questions get answered on hand I guess??? Maybe activities got lost last week in the hubbub of all the station damage and busway flooding? Eeep!
(By the by, I want to put in a props to QR for their extreme organisation during the Ipswich crisis. As dismayed as I was to be unable to call in "flooded" to work, they had things running as smoothly as could be expected in those circumstances, and staff were all very helpful and friendly!)