23 Sep 2010: Australia: Restricting concession public transport travel ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 23rd September  2010

Australia:  Restricting concession public transport travel opportunities for the disadvantaged is not the way to go ...

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 the suggestion by the Tourism and Transport Forum (1) to restrict concession travel on public transport for the most disadvantaged is seriously flawed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The direct cost subsidies for public transport may be in the order of five billion dollars annually, but this actually saves our community considerable expense when real costs of flawed car centric transport systems are properly considered."

"The cost of road trauma is in the order of forty billion dollars annually (2), coupled with congestion costs of around ten billion dollars annually and environmental costs yet unquantified, we should be encouraging more public transport investment and uptake rather than restricting the opportunities for public transport uptake and punishing the most disadvantaged in our communities. Governments should be moving to encourage public transport uptake not restricting travel opportunities."

"We do agree with the Tourism and Transport Forum about the need to drive higher uptake of off peak public transport travel though.  This can be achieved by ensuring proper off peak frequency and fare incentives to do that.  Far better to have a train with only 100 passengers enjoying a 10% off peak discount to be actually carrying 400 passengers enjoying a 30% off peak discount.  This not only increases the fare-box it actually is a multiplier for more economic benefit when all factors are properly considered.  It is a no-brainer!"


References:

1.  http://www.ttf.org.au/

2.  Road trauma is breaking the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4481.0

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 23rd September 2010 page 1

Peak fare shock