Article: Public transport fares Brisbane's big bugbear

[somebody]

Public transport fares Brisbane's big bugbear
Sophia Walter
February 10, 2012 - 3:47PM

Brisbane residents have their say about what they like and don't like about Brisbane Click to play video
Brisbane an 'exciting' place to be

Brisbane residents and tourists have their 15 second say on the good and bad aspects of the city, labelling it 'awesome', 'exciting' and 'friendly'.

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The vibe is right, but it comes at too high a price in Brisbane, at least if a straw poll of the city's residents is to be believed.

brisbanetimes.com.au this week launched My 15 Seconds, a regular video segment allowing the city's residents to answer questions about what makes Brisbane tick.

According to people perusing the CBD markets on Wednesday, public transport in Brisbane is too expensive, but at least the bus drivers are happy.
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When we asked, "What's something you like about Brisbane?", locals and tourists alike pointed to the climate, a relaxed vibe and the friendly people.

"We like very much the waterways and the Brisbane River, and also the outskirts and the environment. Brisbane is more like a country type place," one said.

But numerous shoppers pointed to the price of public transport as a major downfall for the city.

"I've just come back from overseas and I'm shocked by how much a bus costs, I was just absolutely shocked. You pay similar prices in Switzerland but you get buses every 5 minutes on the second."

Fares on southeast Queensland's buses, trains and ferries increased by 15 per cent at the beginning of the year.

Another 15 per cent rise is due in January 2013.

Look out for future My 15 Seconds entries here.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/public-transport-fares-brisbanes-big-bugbear-20120210-1shkv.html#ixzz1lxRaXGpa

[mufreight]

A friend currently working in the tourist industry recently expressed the opinion that the drop in tourist spending in South East Queensland which he believes will be over $450 million for the full year has been as a consequence of the exorbitant public transport fares.
The low end of the market, mostly backpackers, which relies on public transport finds it too expensive and moves on as quickly as possible, hence shorter stays and they spend less so it is not only resident commuters who are affected by the Translink money sponge.

[Mozz]

The current and future fares are "inconceivable" to quote "the Princess Bride" but this time in the true sense of the word

Colleagues I work with in the CBD are changing their travel habits from PT to cars as a direct consequence.

As an official "ambassador" for the online social networking group http://www.couchsurfing.org I have first hand evidence that tourists are not coming to SEQ or once on the gold or sunshine coast, not coming to Brisbane because of the sky high public transport cost.

A day tourist to Brisbane now will spend $20-40 on public transport to travel the city and visit the sites when 2 years ago it would have cost them a $9.40 peak daily ticket......thus many backpackers don't ... seriously they don't travel using public transport ... so they don't spend the money they would have visiting places like Mt Cootha, Lone Pine, Mt Cootha Planetarium and Botanical Gardens etc....

To a lesser extent, those on a working holiday visa in Brisbane, pretty much will only find temporary accommodation for 3,6,12 months within walking distance of the general Brisbane CBD to avoid having to pay the significant public transport costs or find work elsewhere than the greater Brisbane area to avoid the public transport costs....

Many tourists who can afford to travel on our train network remark that it is the slowest train network they have travelled on ... in the world.......but luckily for them I live at Oxley which at least has 15min off peak services, and they do find my stories about how trains 20 years ago were faster than they are now amusing.....and they also love my stories about SEQ public transport being the WORLDS third most expensive with the aim obviously to be the most expensive.. .with the least frequency .....

I had a family stay with me recently from Sydney and they wanted to go to Indooroopilly (5 stations or 5km from Oxley) and one of the boys wanted to catch the train as he was a train enthusiast - well a quick calculation for them on the translink website resulted in an approximate $28 dollar fare for the family...... so they drove their car.... I reckon a taxi might have even been cheaper .....

I lament this state of affairs .... seriously ...

[WTN]

Colleagues I work with in the CBD are changing their travel habits from PT to cars as a direct consequence.

I'm seeing some of this happening at my CBD workplace too.

I had a family stay with me recently from Sydney and they wanted to go to Indooroopilly (5 stations or 5km from Oxley) and one of the boys wanted to catch the train as he was a train enthusiast - well a quick calculation for them on the translink website resulted in an approximate $28 dollar fare for the family...... so they drove their car.... I reckon a taxi might have even been cheaper .....

I lament this state of affairs .... seriously ...

Fill a taxi with people travelling to the airport together, then compare the fare to public transport. You may be surprised if starting from the inner city.

[mufreight]

Fill a taxi with people travelling to the airport together, then compare the fare to public transport. You may be surprised if starting from the inner city.

Getting a taxi from Ipswich to the Airport with five passengers is cheaper than the same journey by train, no need to change trains, get picked up from your door and go when you want to.  The local cab drivers love it.

[somebody]

Fill a taxi with people travelling to the airport together, then compare the fare to public transport. You may be surprised if starting from the inner city.

Getting a taxi from Ipswich to the Airport with five passengers is cheaper than the same journey by train, no need to change trains, get picked up from your door and go when you want to.  The local cab drivers love it.

Pedantry: Five passengers would need a maxi taxi

The point remains of course.

The original point is that the subsidised fares are more expensive, not the Airport for profit fares.

Colleagues I work with in the CBD are changing their travel habits from PT to cars as a direct consequence.

I'm seeing some of this happening at my CBD workplace too.

+2.

This is in spite of the lack of legal all day parking at any price.