9 Dec 2011: SEQ: Parking pressures around stations? More of the same ...

[ozbob]

Media release 9 December 2011

SEQ: Parking pressures around stations? More of the same is the wrong answer.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said there has been plenty of controversy in the media about parking shortages at train stations, and fines subsequently being dished out when cars overflow into the streets and park illegally.

What is the solution?

RAIL Back On Track Member Gavin Seipelt said:

"In our outer areas, Park n' Ride can be a handy solution for where it may be too far to walk or cycle to the station, or where it is difficult to give full coverage with buses."

"However this is not the case for the inner suburbs of Brisbane. The concentration of jobs and population within the inner 10km means it is entirely possible to blanket the area with a comprehensive grid of frequent public transport, within walking distance of all homes. The fact people drive to station says there are gaps in coverage, frequency and operation hours that people are being forced to compensate for, by forced car usage."

"RAIL Back On Track  believes that building parking stations near inner city transport hubs is an expensive, short term solution, and will never cater to the long term projected goals of tripling public transport usage, unless of course we just keep building bigger and bigger car parks.
When the usage of many train stations is measured in the thousands, you can see how attempting to provide this many parking bays, at every station, is absurd."

"A better long term solution of connecting buses can readily be ramped up over time as public transport loads increase, and solves the problem for good."

"Buses can be readily deployed as feeders to funnel passengers into the rail network (1).
Unfortunately this is done in  very limited manner in Brisbane, or has been done poorly, resulting in missed connections and long waits when changing from one vehicle to the next."

"Thoughtful co-ordination of the network is the key, not thoughtlessly building car parks."

Reference:

1.  Car parking - solutions?  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
RAIL Back On Track Member

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[#Metro]

Bus-Rail integration --->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=49.0

Brisbane Feeder Bus ---> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4357.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th December 2011

Re: SEQ: Parking pressures around stations? More of the same is the wrong answer.

Greetings,

Car parking is a major issue.  It will not be solved by knocking down yet more houses and building more acres of tar car park wastelands.

A concerted effort to provide regular feeder buses to stations is needed, particularly  during the periods 5.30am to 9.30am, 3.30pm to 7.30pm.  This will provide a real alternative for public transport passengers.

It means that the limited park n' rides will be available for shift workers and those who don't travel at peak times.

'Station buses', using midi-buses on local runs should also be considered  (see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.msg4651#msg4651 ).

in many circumstances small local station buses will do the job.  These buses can be used for other tasks during the day was well. For example, shopping runs for retirement homes and so forth.  Some places route feeders are fine, other spots midi buses might be the go.  Other places around the world do this.  Matter of horses for courses.  It is really sensible to have full size buses do small feeder runs?

Once a proper network of feeder and station buses is in place, some consideration for cost recovery from park n' rides might be achievable.  This would further encourage use of public and active transport options, rather than selfish car use.

Time new thinking was implemented.

Smart state or failed state?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

On 9/12/2011 10:24 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media release 9 December 2011

SEQ: Parking pressures around stations? More of the same is the wrong answer.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said there has been plenty of controversy in the media about parking shortages at train stations, and fines subsequently being dished out when cars overflow into the streets and park illegally.

What is the solution?

RAIL Back On Track Member Gavin Seipelt said:

"In our outer areas, Park n' Ride can be a handy solution for where it may be too far to walk or cycle to the station, or where it is difficult to give full coverage with buses."

"However this is not the case for the inner suburbs of Brisbane. The concentration of jobs and population within the inner 10km means it is entirely possible to blanket the area with a comprehensive grid of frequent public transport, within walking distance of all homes. The fact people drive to station says there are gaps in coverage, frequency and operation hours that people are being forced to compensate for, by forced car usage."

"RAIL Back On Track  believes that building parking stations near inner city transport hubs is an expensive, short term solution, and will never cater to the long term projected goals of tripling public transport usage, unless of course we just keep building bigger and bigger car parks.
When the usage of many train stations is measured in the thousands, you can see how attempting to provide this many parking bays, at every station, is absurd."

"A better long term solution of connecting buses can readily be ramped up over time as public transport loads increase, and solves the problem for good."

"Buses can be readily deployed as feeders to funnel passengers into the rail network (1).
Unfortunately this is done in  very limited manner in Brisbane, or has been done poorly, resulting in missed connections and long waits when changing from one vehicle to the next."

"Thoughtful co-ordination of the network is the key, not thoughtlessly building car parks."

Reference:

1.  Car parking - solutions?   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
RAIL Back On Track Member

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Media release 9 December 2011 re-released 9 March 2012

SEQ: Parking pressures around stations? More of the same is the wrong answer.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said there has been plenty of controversy in the media about parking shortages at train stations, and fines subsequently being dished out when cars overflow into the streets and park illegally.

What is the solution?

RAIL Back On Track Member Gavin Seipelt said:

"In our outer areas, Park n' Ride can be a handy solution for where it may be too far to walk or cycle to the station, or where it is difficult to give full coverage with buses."

"However this is not the case for the inner suburbs of Brisbane. The concentration of jobs and population within the inner 10km means it is entirely possible to blanket the area with a comprehensive grid of frequent public transport, within walking distance of all homes. The fact people drive to station says there are gaps in coverage, frequency and operation hours that people are being forced to compensate for, by forced car usage."

"RAIL Back On Track  believes that building parking stations near inner city transport hubs is an expensive, short term solution, and will never cater to the long term projected goals of tripling public transport usage, unless of course we just keep building bigger and bigger car parks.
When the usage of many train stations is measured in the thousands, you can see how attempting to provide this many parking bays, at every station, is absurd."

"A better long term solution of connecting buses can readily be ramped up over time as public transport loads increase, and solves the problem for good."

"Buses can be readily deployed as feeders to funnel passengers into the rail network (1).
Unfortunately this is done in  very limited manner in Brisbane, or has been done poorly, resulting in missed connections and long waits when changing from one vehicle to the next."

"Thoughtful co-ordination of the network is the key, not thoughtlessly building car parks."

Reference:

1.  Car parking - solutions?  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org