6 Apr 2012: SEQ: End the 'radical experiment' of divided city bus stop locations

[ozbob]

Media release 6 April 2012

SEQ: End the 'radical experiment' of divided city bus stop locations

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 is highlighting the issue of divided city bus top locations.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Brisbane has some of the world's highest public transport fares, yet they pay a poor return towards the actual cost of running the city's trains, buses and ferries."

"A passenger undertaking 10 nine-kilometre journeys in one week pays $42.40 to Translink.  The same number of journeys over the same distance in Sydney costs $26 by train and $36 by bus.  A Melbourne traveller using a Myki electronic ticketing card would part with $32.80, while an Adelaide commuter making the same 10 journeys in one week would pay $30.90.  In Perth, the 10 journeys in a week over nine kilometres each way would result in a $19.50 outlay."

"While Brisbane's fares are higher than other Australian cities, they pay for only 25 per cent of the actual cost of providing the public transport services.  This is on par with Perth, which has much cheaper fares.  Sydney and Melbourne do much better on this measure. While their higher population densities no doubt is a factor, it is not the entire story."

"Brisbane City Council's Brisbane Transport rocket bus services operating in the evening peak under-perform currently.  Rockets destined for the south-side, in most cases, leave from Adelaide St while the equivalent full-time service leaves from Queen St or King George Square bus stations. This leads to a mix of full and less crowded buses heading in the same direction."

"Even outside of peak hour, bus services bound for corridors such as Coronation Drive/Moggill Rd leave from highly dispersed parts of the CBD. This problem affects many other areas as well, but the 444 vs 400 series expresses is the worst example, as it is the only one which doesn't allow for a proper interchange at the Cultural Centre. This means an annoying travel experience from the Cultural Centre as passengers must decide whether to use the outbound and direct platform for the express services or the inbound and indirect platform for the 444 BUZ."

Similar experiences in the CBD occur bound for:

Lutwyche Rd - 333 BUZ from King George Square Bus Station or the 370+375 from Adelaide St;
Ipswich Rd - 100 BUZ from Queen St Bus Station A1, 110/115 from the other end of the station, 116/117/124/125 from Adelaide St or the 112/113 from Alice St;
Old Cleveland Rd - 222 BUZ from King George Square Bus Station, 200 BUZ from Queen St Bus station or 204 from Adelaide St;
Logan Rd - 170/180 from Queen St Bus Station platform C (depending on the part of Logan Rd you are bound for) or 174/175 from Adelaide St;
Cavendish Rd - 184/185 from Ann St or 180 from Queen St Bus Station C1;
Latrobe Tce and Given Tce - 375 from Adelaide St or 385 BUZ from King George Square;
Kelvin Grove Rd - 390 from Adelaide St, 359 from Queen St or 345 from King George Square;
Stanley Bridge - 215/220 from Queen St Bus Station while the 184/185/210/212 leave from Ann St.

"By having these travel options involving different bus stops, CBD commuters must take a chance on which bus to take, and from which bus stop.  The system provides a good number of buses, yet the commuter must chose one bus stop and, consequently, miss other, more timely means of getting home.  For the individual, the actual bus frequency available to them is reduced by these situations."

"Improving the effective frequency by reordering the physical location of Brisbane city bus stops so that buses heading in the one direction all service the same or adjacent stop bus stops will doubtless improve patronage and, therefore, fare revenue.  A review of bus stops and the buses serving them would provide more travel options and even out the passenger load per bus."

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 6 April 2012 re-released 18 April 2012

SEQ: End the 'radical experiment' of divided city bus stop locations

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 is highlighting the issue of divided city bus top locations.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Brisbane has some of the world's highest public transport fares, yet they pay a poor return towards the actual cost of running the city's trains, buses and ferries."

"A passenger undertaking 10 nine-kilometre journeys in one week pays $42.40 to Translink.  The same number of journeys over the same distance in Sydney costs $26 by train and $36 by bus.  A Melbourne traveller using a Myki electronic ticketing card would part with $32.80, while an Adelaide commuter making the same 10 journeys in one week would pay $30.90.  In Perth, the 10 journeys in a week over nine kilometres each way would result in a $19.50 outlay."

"While Brisbane's fares are higher than other Australian cities, they pay for only 25 per cent of the actual cost of providing the public transport services.  This is on par with Perth, which has much cheaper fares.  Sydney and Melbourne do much better on this measure. While their higher population densities no doubt is a factor, it is not the entire story."

"Brisbane City Council's Brisbane Transport rocket bus services operating in the evening peak under-perform currently.  Rockets destined for the south-side, in most cases, leave from Adelaide St while the equivalent full-time service leaves from Queen St or King George Square bus stations. This leads to a mix of full and less crowded buses heading in the same direction."

"Even outside of peak hour, bus services bound for corridors such as Coronation Drive/Moggill Rd leave from highly dispersed parts of the CBD. This problem affects many other areas as well, but the 444 vs 400 series expresses is the worst example, as it is the only one which doesn't allow for a proper interchange at the Cultural Centre. This means an annoying travel experience from the Cultural Centre as passengers must decide whether to use the outbound and direct platform for the express services or the inbound and indirect platform for the 444 BUZ."

Similar experiences in the CBD occur bound for:

Lutwyche Rd - 333 BUZ from King George Square Bus Station or the 370+375 from Adelaide St;
Ipswich Rd - 100 BUZ from Queen St Bus Station A1, 110/115 from the other end of the station, 116/117/124/125 from Adelaide St or the 112/113 from Alice St;
Old Cleveland Rd - 222 BUZ from King George Square Bus Station, 200 BUZ from Queen St Bus station or 204 from Adelaide St;
Logan Rd - 170/180 from Queen St Bus Station platform C (depending on the part of Logan Rd you are bound for) or 174/175 from Adelaide St;
Cavendish Rd - 184/185 from Ann St or 180 from Queen St Bus Station C1;
Latrobe Tce and Given Tce - 375 from Adelaide St or 385 BUZ from King George Square;
Kelvin Grove Rd - 390 from Adelaide St, 359 from Queen St or 345 from King George Square;
Stanley Bridge - 215/220 from Queen St Bus Station while the 184/185/210/212 leave from Ann St.

"By having these travel options involving different bus stops, CBD commuters must take a chance on which bus to take, and from which bus stop.  The system provides a good number of buses, yet the commuter must chose one bus stop and, consequently, miss other, more timely means of getting home.  For the individual, the actual bus frequency available to them is reduced by these situations."

"Improving the effective frequency by reordering the physical location of Brisbane city bus stops so that buses heading in the one direction all service the same or adjacent stop bus stops will doubtless improve patronage and, therefore, fare revenue.  A review of bus stops and the buses serving them would provide more travel options and even out the passenger load per bus."

Contact:

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