Why did patronage drop 21% on the CityCat and CityFerry Q2 2010/11

[ozbob]

Why did the patronage drop?  Last Tracker shows a reduction of 21%.  That is quite a lot.

There was some down time, around 4 days.  Minor incident at Riverside for half a day.

Weather, not the best generally over the quarter, this may effect.  The trend has been down for a while though?

Cost?  Time?  Overloads??

Any ideas?

[Golliwog]

I heard some mutterings around UQ during one of the last student union elections about cutting down on non students using campus parking to park n ride to the CBD using the city cat.

Could CityGlider being "stealing" passengers?

Perhaps the ferries should have been doing passenger counts just like the trains do? It would give an insight into when and where people are using the ferries.

[Gazza]

Probably because they are so slow and indirect for many journeys, and the buses are faster.

[Golliwog]

You do get a better service from the CityCat though. Especially if you can connect to eduroam wireless

That said, I hardly use the CityCat, the 109 is more convenient with the interchange to the FG line. Plus its cheaper that way...

[ozbob]

Thanks for the feedback.  I also think the lack of a tourist ticketing product also acts as a disincentive for visitors to travel on the river.  Tourists do a lot of trips on the CityCats particularly. 

[somebody]

I think the fare hikes could be a factor too.  A lot more of the city cat market is discretionary.

[ozbob]

I think the fare hikes could be a factor too.  A lot more of the city cat market is discretionary.

Thanks, yes clearly a factor too.

[Emmie]

I think a lot of people would be put off by ending the day ticket - lots of visitors or people taking a day off used to jump on and off the ferries across the whole day, which is not possible any longer. It WAS still possible in 2010, but as more and more people get GO cards, the habit of getting an all day ticket was already declining.

[ozbob]

Thanks Emmie, yes sure to have an effect.