9 May 2010: SEQ: Go card needs urgent fare improvements

[ozbob]

Media Release 9 May 2010

SEQ:  Go card needs urgent fare improvements

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 said many disadvantaged groups are reeling from  public transport fare price rises.  This will only get worse in view of the projected 15% per annum increases for the next four years (1).  There is an urgent need for a daily fare cap on the go card for all users.  The cost of living for essential services is sky-rocketing.  It is time for action.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The failure to put a daily fare cap on the go card is causing hardship for many public transport users.  How much worse this will be in view of the 15% per annum fare increases over the next 4 years combined with the rapid cost of living increases in other basic services? (1)"

"Seniors, tertiary students, disability pensioners and other pensioners, job seekers all need to be able to access affordable public transport.  Other places such as London, Melbourne and Perth have daily caps on their smart cards, why not the go card? (2,3,4)"

"We back the Queensland Council of Social Services in their call for concession public transport travel to be extended to recipients of New Start allowance (5).  These folk are struggling and need to be able to travel in an affordable and equitable manner in their quest for employment."

"Seniors are becoming trapped in their own homes, as the cost of regular public transport is getting beyond their means.  What sort of society are we creating? Pensioners tend to travel in off peak times so there is plenty of capacity, and such a fare would be encouraging to folks to go out. The well being and health of the community is improved overall and this reduces health care costs (6)"

"The majority of  working commuters do two daily journeys, 5 times as week and the introduction of a fare cap will not adversely affect the fare box.  The cap will though particularly assist disadvantaged groups who need to make multiple daily journeys in the volunteer work, in their search for employment, in their travels for study, and travel for medical appointments. By encouraging the maximum use of public transport fare box revenue will actually increase."

"A daily fare cap algorithm could simply be based on the highest zone journey undertaken in a 24 hour period by two plus a daily loading of say 10%.  The introduction of a daily fare cap on the go card would also encourage more public transport travel, which in turn will lead to significant economic benefit in terms of reduced congestion, lessened environmental impacts and a reduction in road trauma.  Road trauma is a massive cost to our society."

"The go card fare structure needs urgent improvement. It is now time for a daily fare cap on the go card for all users."

References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/fares2011-14.php

2. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/9261.aspx

3. http://www.myki.com.au/Fares/default.aspx

4. http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/SmartRider/SmartRiderFaresandRules/tabid/103/Default.aspx

5. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fears-toll-increase-will-force-people-out-of-work-20100318-qhdk.html

6. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3541.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[dwb]

A daily fare cap algorithm could simply be based on the highest zone journey undertaken in a 24 hour period by two plus a daily loading of say 10%.

I'm going to re-iterate my perspective that a pre-chosen monthly value based cap irrespective of zones, or number of trips/day/week is the best way to go.  Working just like a mobile phone cap it would promote people to stop using their landline... I mean car.

[ozbob]

Time for action --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3905.msg27708#msg27708

[ozbob]

Follow up:

1st June 2010

Greetings,

We are becoming very concerned with the failure to move forward with a decent fare structure for the go card.
Seniors need the benefit of a reduced daily fare.  Unemployed also.  Why is Queensland so out of whack with the world on these matters?

Ten minutes on the web soon highlights what a poor deal public transport commuters have here.  Public transport commuters are doing the right thing for our community. Encourage them.

If we maximise the use of a fixed asset revenue actually increases ...

The amount of rhetoric on encouraging public transport use is simply not being matched by initiatives to encourage maximum utilisation.

Where are the promised services?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

Media Release 9 May 2010 released 30 May 2010
 
SEQ:  Go card needs urgent fare improvements

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 said many disadvantaged groups are reeling from  public transport fare price rises.  This will only get worse in view of the projected 15% per annum increases for the next four years (1).  There is an urgent need for a daily fare cap on the go card for all users.  The cost of living for essential services is sky-rocketing.  It is time for action.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The failure to put a daily fare cap on the go card is causing hardship for many public transport users.  How much worse this will be in view of the 15% per annum fare increases over the next 4 years combined with the rapid cost of living increases in other basic services? (1)"

"Seniors, tertiary students, disability pensioners and other pensioners, job seekers all need to be able to access affordable public transport.  Other places such as London, Melbourne and Perth have daily caps on their smart cards, why not the go card? (2,3,4)"

"We back the Queensland Council of Social Services in their call for concession public transport travel to be extended to recipients of New Start allowance (5).  These folk are struggling and need to be able to travel in an affordable and equitable manner in their quest for employment."

"Seniors are becoming trapped in their own homes, as the cost of regular public transport is getting beyond their means.  What sort of society are we creating? Pensioners tend to travel in off peak times so there is plenty of capacity, and such a fare would be encouraging to folks to go out. The well being and health of the community is improved overall and this reduces health care costs (6)"

"The majority of  working commuters do two daily journeys, 5 times as week and the introduction of a fare cap will not adversely affect the fare box.  The cap will though particularly assist disadvantaged groups who need to make multiple daily journeys in the volunteer work, in their search for employment, in their travels for study, and travel for medical appointments. By encouraging the maximum use of public transport fare box revenue will actually increase."

"A daily fare cap algorithm could simply be based on the highest zone journey undertaken in a 24 hour period by two plus a daily loading of say 10%.  The introduction of a daily fare cap on the go card would also encourage more public transport travel, which in turn will lead to significant economic benefit in terms of reduced congestion, lessened environmental impacts and a reduction in road trauma.  Road trauma is a massive cost to our society."

"The go card fare structure needs urgent improvement. It is now time for a daily fare cap on the go card for all users."

References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/fares2011-14.php

2. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/9261.aspx

3. http://www.myki.com.au/Fares/default.aspx

4. http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/SmartRider/SmartRiderFaresandRules/tabid/103/Default.aspx

5. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fears-toll-increase-will-force-people-out-of-work-20100318-qhdk.html

6. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3541.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th June 2010

Greetings,

We are becoming very concerned with the failure to move forward with a decent fare structure for the go card.
Seniors need the benefit of a reduced daily fare.  Unemployed also.  Why is Queensland so out of whack with the world on these matters?

Ten minutes on the web soon highlights what a poor deal public transport commuters have here.  Public transport commuters are doing the right thing for our community. Encourage them.

If we maximise the use of a fixed asset revenue actually increases ...

The amount of rhetoric on encouraging public transport use is simply not being matched by initiatives to encourage maximum utilisation.

Where are the promised services?

The Courier Mail has highlighted the cost of living impacts today across a broad sector (Cost hikes hit families hard http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-families-on-the-brink-as-power-water-and-rate-rises-bite-hard/story-e6freoof-1225878626795 ).

The Courier Mail failed to mention that public transport fares are planned to increase 15% per annum for at least the next four years --> http://www.translink.com.au/fares2011-14.php

The one element that can be made more equitable easily with an improved fare structure is public transport.  Capping and periodical options for the go card will increase the fare box.
Isn't it time to get on with it?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

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

Media Release 9 May 2010 released 30 May 2010

SEQ:  Go card needs urgent fare improvements

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 said many disadvantaged groups are reeling from  public transport fare price rises.  This will only get worse in view of the projected 15% per annum increases for the next four years (1).  There is an urgent need for a daily fare cap on the go card for all users.  The cost of living for essential services is sky-rocketing.  It is time for action.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The failure to put a daily fare cap on the go card is causing hardship for many public transport users.  How much worse this will be in view of the 15% per annum fare increases over the next 4 years combined with the rapid cost of living increases in other basic services? (1)"

"Seniors, tertiary students, disability pensioners and other pensioners, job seekers all need to be able to access affordable public transport.  Other places such as London, Melbourne and Perth have daily caps on their smart cards, why not the go card? (2,3,4)"

"We back the Queensland Council of Social Services in their call for concession public transport travel to be extended to recipients of New Start allowance (5).  These folk are struggling and need to be able to travel in an affordable and equitable manner in their quest for employment."

"Seniors are becoming trapped in their own homes, as the cost of regular public transport is getting beyond their means.  What sort of society are we creating? Pensioners tend to travel in off peak times so there is plenty of capacity, and such a fare would be encouraging to folks to go out. The well being and health of the community is improved overall and this reduces health care costs (6)"

"The majority of  working commuters do two daily journeys, 5 times as week and the introduction of a fare cap will not adversely affect the fare box.  The cap will though particularly assist disadvantaged groups who need to make multiple daily journeys in the volunteer work, in their search for employment, in their travels for study, and travel for medical appointments. By encouraging the maximum use of public transport fare box revenue will actually increase."

"A daily fare cap algorithm could simply be based on the highest zone journey undertaken in a 24 hour period by two plus a daily loading of say 10%.  The introduction of a daily fare cap on the go card would also encourage more public transport travel, which in turn will lead to significant economic benefit in terms of reduced congestion, lessened environmental impacts and a reduction in road trauma.  Road trauma is a massive cost to our society."

"The go card fare structure needs urgent improvement. It is now time for a daily fare cap on the go card for all users."

References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/fares2011-14.php

2. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/9261.aspx

3. http://www.myki.com.au/Fares/default.aspx

4. http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/SmartRider/SmartRiderFaresandRules/tabid/103/Default.aspx

5. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fears-toll-increase-will-force-people-out-of-work-20100318-qhdk.html

6. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3541.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org