21 Apr 2009: Free rides for a few or improved public transport options for all?

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 April 2009

SEQ:  Free rides for a few or improved public transport options for all?

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 congratulated TransLink on their commitment to put forward further fare strategies for the Go card (1).

It is essential to add off peak fares, and early and late peak incentive fare discounts to the fare structure for the go card, together with capping options that makes the go card equal or better than any paper ticket.  Off peak and incentive fares will encourage use of public transport when there is plenty of capacity and in turn help ease the congestion on struggling peak public transport services.

A high uptake of the go card will allow the seamless collection of meaningful real time load data with the outcome of better matching of services with demand.  Improvements in public transport efficiency, particularly reduced loading times on buses will also occur.

An option of capped fares to match daily, weekly and monthly ticket options will further encourage Go card uptake amongst those commuters who take more than the standard journeys in their paper ticketing period.

Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present paper ticketing on the TransLink network has an off peak option (2).  This encourages travel at less congested times and is helpful to retired pensioners, parents and others who can take trips during the off peak periods.  It encourages citizens to use public transport and reduce environmental impacts. It encourages people to travel outside peak times."

"Presently, off peak ticketing is available for unlimited travel between 9am and 3.30pm and after 7pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends and gazetted public holidays ."

"The go card provides a simple means of implementing an off peak fare and incentive fare structure. All go card journeys that commence (touch on) before 6.30am , touch on after 9am and touch on before 3.30pm and touch on after 7pm Monday to Friday  could be given a flat off peak discount of 30%."

"Although free early bird travel sounds attractive, it is not sustainable financially and too narrow in its focus.  Far better to drive maximum utilisation of our public transport, and in turn actually increase revenue, whilst giving all commuters; bus, ferry and rail the choice of early, late, and off peak discounts."

"It would be a simple matter to give all go card journeys on weekends and gazetted public holidays an off peak discount too.  This is only replicating present ticketing practices."

"The addition of off peak and incentive fares to the go card, together with a capping option, will go a long way in overcoming the remaining public transport commuter resistance to the go card."

"It is time to GO forwards!  Reduced congestion, improved environmental outcomes, safer commuting and better utilisation of the public transport asset will result."

References:

1.  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/qld-news/cheaper-fares-proposal-by-midyear-translink-20090420-ackt.html

2.  http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/TransLin.nsf/index/ti_main

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org