FREE Ferries

[ozbob]

Thanks Nikko. 

Time to get out of the comfort zone and start to do something don't you think?

Affordability is the only KPI less than satisfactory, patronage is sliding.  A few carrots might turn things around.  Clearly we are heading for oblivion at the moment.  Unless it is turned around the next step is more service cuts, and staff cuts I would suggest.

Constrained thinking, lack of courage, afraid to take risks, sums up the failed fare path strategy well IMHO.

Who is on board?   If you want to continue on the present path of mediocrity good luck to you.  Don't know what you are doing here though.

[techblitz]

So Perth, that has a much better fare box recovery, frequency and connections, vastly superior fare structure, has its Free Transit Zone http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/UsingTransperth/FreeTransperthServices.aspx.  Yes it must stand in the way of their overall fare strategy NOT ... it works as a further driver to use public transport.

Time we got out of our comfort zones of continuing mediocrity and failure.  It is time to be bold.  He who dares wins!

@STB we have had far too much myopia from TransLink et al thank you ...

You're comparing apples and oranges. Making ferries free is a fine idea but there is no relationship between doing so and achieving the same outcomes as Perth.

If we assume all other operating costs are constant, you make ferries free and suddenly those who use them (and those who currently use CityCat and opt for a free ferry) are no longer contributing revenue. Less revenue means there's more ground to cover in terms of finding means to increase affordability.
If BCC are willing to pay for the foregone revenue, then that's great. Do it. Otherwise funds will have to be redirected from elsewhere to make up for it.

You need to look at things that are actually going to SAVE money and REDUCE costs, while INCREASING farebox recovery. Increasing patronage has no bearing on this if it actually results in less revenue.

Put simply, you need to make bigger picture changes to get to the point Perth is at. In my mind, free ferries would perhaps be something that come after the savings to afford it are found elsewhere first.

Good points nikko

regarding perth comaprisons...
can I just go on record and also say that perth is experiencing a stagnant to rather sharp drop in customer satisfaction ratings across all modes.  Fares are definitely now not the issue in perth where as in Brisbane its the MAIN issue.
Brisbane however clearly outperforms perth in other satisfaction ratings such as overcrowding and bus frequency etc.

[ozbob]

The serious issue for Brisbane is the patronage slide.   This is very dangerous, as it will lead to further service cuts if not contested.

We need a new fare structure to drive patronage, a few carrots here and there might help.  The 8.30am off peak touch on is one such carrot.  A further fare increase of 7.5% is only going to further worsen the patronage slide I am afraid.

The only glimmer of hope is a massive fuel price rise, and I have suggested same to TransLink as well.

[ozbob]

So Perth, that has a much better fare box recovery, frequency and connections, vastly superior fare structure, has its Free Transit Zone http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/UsingTransperth/FreeTransperthServices.aspx.  Yes it must stand in the way of their overall fare strategy NOT ... it works as a further driver to use public transport.

Time we got out of our comfort zones of continuing mediocrity and failure.  It is time to be bold.  He who dares wins!

@STB we have had far too much myopia from TransLink et al thank you ...

You're comparing apples and oranges. Making ferries free is a fine idea but there is no relationship between doing so and achieving the same outcomes as Perth.

If we assume all other operating costs are constant, you make ferries free and suddenly those who use them (and those who currently use CityCat and opt for a free ferry) are no longer contributing revenue. Less revenue means there's more ground to cover in terms of finding means to increase affordability.
If BCC are willing to pay for the foregone revenue, then that's great. Do it. Otherwise funds will have to be redirected from elsewhere to make up for it.

You need to look at things that are actually going to SAVE money and REDUCE costs, while INCREASING farebox recovery. Increasing patronage has no bearing on this if it actually results in less revenue.

Put simply, you need to make bigger picture changes to get to the point Perth is at. In my mind, free ferries would perhaps be something that come after the savings to afford it are found elsewhere first.

Good points nikko

regarding perth comaprisons...
can I just go on record and also say that perth is experiencing a stagnant to rather sharp drop in customer satisfaction ratings across all modes.  Fares are definitely now not the issue in perth where as in Brisbane its the MAIN issue.
Brisbane however clearly outperforms perth in other satisfaction ratings such as overcrowding and bus frequency etc.

I just had a look at the Transperth Passenger Satisfaction Monitor 2013.  It is not as you suggest techblitz  http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=362&id=319  it is very good.

Be nice if TransLink did that sort of detail ...

Ho hum ...

[ozbob]

Some grabs.  Peak crowding is an issue on trains but they are still higher satisfactions than SEQ.  When you are operating a high standard even when it dips still better than our lot.  Also they had a lot of rail disruptions due to Perth City Link works etc.

Bus patron satisfaction remains steady in 2013 and very close to all time best results - a little over 8 in 10 Bus patrons remain satisfied with Transperth's Bus system overall.

Patron satisfaction with Transperth service information provision remains very strong and has shown incremental improvements in several areas once again this year.

Patron satisfaction with Transperth ticketing services remains very strong.
Usage of and satisfaction with SmartRider remain at all time high levels in 2013.

Feelings of personal safety and security for the night time measures have improved slightly in 2013 for both the 'on-board' and 'at station' measures.

Off-peak weekday service frequency continues to have the highest satisfaction level at 90%, while satisfaction with peak time service frequency has shown incremental improvements over the past 2 years.

Train patron satisfaction has decreased significantly for the second time in the past 3 years and in 2013, is the lowest result ever recorded post-electrification.
The decreases over the past 3 years are more pronounced among peak-time travellers and reflect both overall patronage growth and issues created by peak-time demand.
A little over 8 in 10 Train patrons remain satisfied with Transperth's Train system overall while 7% are expressly dissatisfied.

[ozbob]

Interesting, Perth can manage to have its Free Transit Zone and turn out excellent data.

Here, a few cross river ferries, running largely empty, being made notionally free (despite the fact that most trips on them are already free with go card as continuations/transfers)  is a big issue for some ....  it is a no brainer to me ...   

[longboi]

Thanks Nikko. 

Time to get out of the comfort zone and start to do something don't you think?

Affordability is the only KPI less than satisfactory, patronage is sliding.  A few carrots might turn things around.  Clearly we are heading for oblivion at the moment.  Unless it is turned around the next step is more service cuts, and staff cuts I would suggest.

Constrained thinking, lack of courage, afraid to take risks, sums up the failed fare path strategy well IMHO.

Who is on board?   If you want to continue on the present path of mediocrity good luck to you.  Don't know what you are doing here though.

I'm for meaningful change which will actually achieve the desired outcomes.

That is:

• Competitive tendering to operate services
• Greater emphasis on KPIs determining payment to operators
• Removal of any right of first offer (only used in an emergency to ensure continuity of service)
• Network design that harnesses efficiency
• Providing the "carrot" to areas which experience a low level of PT usage (i.e. Outer fringes of Brisbane, Gold Coast)
• Increasing opportunities for new revenue streams in and around PT infrastructure (Advertising, retail etc.). Using this as leverage to reduce QR contract spend
• Reducing duplication of functions between operators, Local Governments and the State (i.e. Communications, infrastructure maintenance)
• Entering into a new contract with an AFCS vendor that actually allows for efficiency (less manual intervention for things like adjustments), doesn't charge the world to make changes to the system, allows for innovative ticketing options and makes fare payment much easier and accessible.
• Reducing fare evasion

Free ferries are nothing more than a "9 and free"-type gimmick which you yourself have stated:

^ then 10 and free introduced by the former state government, simply trumped by the present state government as an electoral porky,  was one of the worst outcomes for public transport possible in SEQ IMHO ...  the failed fare structure has put back PT years ...

[techblitz]

nice ozbob

def WAY better than TL reports

PRIMARY REASONS FOR DISSATISFACTION (n=68 RESPONDENTS)
 'Too crowded during peak times / lack of seating' (n=44) – 4.4% of total sample vs. 1.7% in 2012
 'Need extra carriages / longer trains / more capacity' (n=22) – 2.2% of total sample vs. 1.2% in 2012
 'Insufficient off-peak services (after 6pm), weekends, public holidays, early mornings), (n=10)
 'Poor bus/train connections/Need more feeder services' (n=7);
 'Services unreliable/Never on time' (n=6).

At least they are working on the rail overcrowding issue over there with more carriages but it clearly shows they were unprepared for the extra patronage.

came across this article from 2012

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/passengers-are-fainting-on-perths-overcrowded-trains/story-e6frg13u-1226448355805 

[ozbob]

Agree with your points ^ Nikko.   The problem is a few gimmicks is needed to arrest the slide until meaningful improvements can be implemented, hence the change in the off peak touch on.  It is not enough to to stop the slide, and this the risk.  The systemic improvements you have outlined will take a lot of time.

We have seen attempts to improve network efficiency rejected for base political reasons essentially.  How will they now drive the systemic changes needed?

Making the cross river ferries free might actually drive patronage growth on the wider network.  Won't know until they try it.  I have little faith left in some of the modelling that goes on ... 

[#Metro]

You're comparing apples and oranges. Making ferries free is a fine idea but there is no relationship between doing so and achieving the same outcomes as Perth.

Perth has CAT buses. They're free.

If we assume all other operating costs are constant, you make ferries free and suddenly those who use them (and those who currently use CityCat and opt for a free ferry) are no longer contributing revenue. Less revenue means there's more ground to cover in terms of finding means to increase affordability.
If BCC are willing to pay for the foregone revenue, then that's great. Do it. Otherwise funds will have to be redirected from elsewhere to make up for it.

This is true. BUT we need to look at (a) public benefit and (b) relative cost increase. Is there a $3 toll when walking across the Storey Bridge? Is there a toll when you cross the river at The Goodwill Bridge or Victoria Bridge or Kurilpa Bridge? No, there isn't. All these bridges cost orders of magnitude more to construct than to buy the CityFerry.

The second thing, the ferries are already being paid for. The amount of revenue they pull in with charges is marginal and due to the high fares mostly carry air. I haven't seen the numbers for fare recovery on CityFerry but I think it would be pretty bad. So the additional cost of making it free would be small because few people already pay and use it.

Due to the lack of substitutes, the time savings to get to the other side are very high. This is borne out by the full CityHoppers.

Finally there is likely to be no impact on alternatives - because there aren't any. There may be some transfer at Bulimba-Tenneriffe but that is just one small section.

You need to look at things that are actually going to SAVE money and REDUCE costs, while INCREASING farebox recovery. Increasing patronage has no bearing on this if it actually results in less revenue.

The additional costs would be tiny.

Put simply, you need to make bigger picture changes to get to the point Perth is at. In my mind, free ferries would perhaps be something that come after the savings to afford it are found elsewhere first.

Increase City rates by a few cents per year. Problem solved. Savings can be made by reducing the waste in the bus network - high time it was tackled head on.

[longboi]

Perth has CAT buses. They're free.

Because Perth does something doesn't mean it will automatically work here. Unless you know contracts and payment methodology I can't accept any of your suggestions.

This is true. BUT we need to look at (a) public benefit and (b) relative cost increase. Is there a $3 toll when walking across the Storey Bridge? Is there a toll when you cross the river at The Goodwill Bridge or Victoria Bridge or Kurilpa Bridge? No, there isn't. All these bridges cost orders of magnitude more to construct than to buy the CityFerry.

This has no bearing on the topic at hand. You're talking two completely different subjects.

The second thing, the ferries are already being paid for. The amount of revenue they pull in with charges is marginal and due to the high fares mostly carry air. I haven't seen the numbers for fare recovery on CityFerry but I think it would be pretty bad. So the additional cost of making it free would be small because few people already pay and use it.

Due to the lack of substitutes, the time savings to get to the other side are very high. This is borne out by the full CityHoppers.

Finally there is likely to be no impact on alternatives - because there aren't any. There may be some transfer at Bulimba-Tenneriffe but that is just one small section.

There's a big catamaran known as the CityCat which is the alternative. I can't tell you the foregone revenue that BCC pay for CityHopper but it's more than you think. Add the additional inner-city ferries on top and you end up getting into the $M p.a. mark.

You need to look at things that are actually going to SAVE money and REDUCE costs, while INCREASING farebox recovery. Increasing patronage has no bearing on this if it actually results in less revenue.

The additional costs would be tiny.

Evidence please.

Increase City rates by a few cents per year. Problem solved. Savings can be made by reducing the waste in the bus network - high time it was tackled head on.

Do you even read my posts?  Or do you just like to counter everything I say as if I'm the big bad guy? I already posted both of these points. In fact I posted about BCC bearing the cost twice now.


There's nothing wrong with the idea per se, but it's just plain silly to bang on about more affordable PT and then come out with gimmicks like this which benefit a minute number of people who are already using (and paying) for PT.

[#Metro]

Because Perth does something doesn't mean it will automatically work here. Unless you know contracts and payment methodology I can't accept any of your suggestions.

Perhaps it is the big Q in Queensland that makes good ideas elsewhere non-functional over here...

This has no bearing on the topic at hand. You're talking two completely different subjects.

But it is very relevant. You have a very large capital expenditure and you have free walking across the river by way of a bridge. The monohull ferries serve exactly the same function - they are put in places where bridges do not exist for the same purpose - short trips across to the other side of the river. The method is different but the product is the same - get the person to the other side of the river Why should there be a toll on a ferry but not on any of the bridges crossing the Brisbane river?

There's a big catamaran known as the CityCat which is the alternative. I can't tell you the foregone revenue that BCC pay for CityHopper but it's more than you think. Add the additional inner-city ferries on top and you end up getting into the $M p.a. mark.

Could you please tell me how I get to Kangaroo Point (Holman Street, Thornton Street, Dockside) on the CityCat?
BCC can invent oodles and oodles of waste but can't find the funds for monohull ferries? Doubt it.
Maybe terminating the $9m p.a. Maroon Wasteglider at Cultural Centre would easily pay for this. What about all that extra revenue from the recent expansion of parking meters in the CBD fringe and CBD as well?

Evidence please.

Easy, the boat is almost empty every time I use it.

There's nothing wrong with the idea per se, but it's just plain silly to bang on about more affordable PT and then come out with gimmicks like this which benefit a minute number of people who are already using (and paying) for PT.

Not at all. Many of those trips would not be made at all by PT simply because there are no other ways to get to the CBD part of the river apart from swim across or spend ages going the long way around. Some of those trips would be made anyway, but it is easy to see that many would not - just compare the loadings on the CityHopper vs CityFerry when they both pull up.

[longboi]

Perhaps it is the big Q in Queensland that makes good ideas elsewhere non-functional over here...

What I'm trying to get across is that the bigger picture things that don't work need to change first ("The big Q" stuff) or we'll still be in the same sort of predicament with fares and patronage.

But it is very relevant. You have a very large capital expenditure and you have free walking across the river by way of a bridge. The monohull ferries serve exactly the same function - they are put in places where bridges do not exist for the same purpose - short trips across to the other side of the river. The method is different but the product is the same - get the person to the other side of the river Why should there be a toll on a ferry but not on any of the bridges crossing the Brisbane river?

Bridges aren't a business. They have maintenance costs, that's it.

Could you please tell me how I get to Kangaroo Point (Holman Street, Thornton Street, Dockside) on the CityCat?
BCC can invent oodles and oodles of waste but can't find the funds for monohull ferries? Doubt it.
Maybe terminating the $9m p.a. Maroon Wasteglider at Cultural Centre would easily pay for this. What about all that extra revenue from the recent expansion of parking meters in the CBD fringe and CBD as well?

Exactly. If BCC stumps up the funds, then all is good.

Not at all. Many of those trips would not be made at all by PT simply because there are no other ways to get to the CBD part of the river apart from swim across or spend ages going the long way around. Some of those trips would be made anyway, but it is easy to see that many would not - just compare the loadings on the CityHopper vs CityFerry when they both pull up.

Then perhaps the 234 should be canned in favor of free ferries.

I do understand where you're coming from but it's not really the right climate (at least from a State perspective). Already introducing further initiatives for cheaper travel across the board (Like the earlier off-peak and other ones not yet released) is going to come at a cost. The benefits of free travel for a few well-off inner city dwellers just don't seem far-reaching enough to justify it.

[#Metro]

What I'm trying to get across is that the bigger picture things that don't work need to change first ("The big Q" stuff) or we'll still be in the same sort of predicament with fares and patronage.

Well if you want to campaign that way, feel free to do so.

Bridges aren't a business. They have maintenance costs, that's it.

But that's a Tautology. So CityHopper is not a business? FREE Perth CAT buses are not a business? FREE CityLoop bus?
FREE BCC WiFi in parks? The reason why bridges do not have charges is because if they did, few would use them and thus benefits to the public would be low. This is the same case with the under-utilised CityFerries.

These ferries are performing the same function as a bridge would.

I do understand where you're coming from but it's not really the right climate (at least from a State perspective)

We already tried a major fare overhaul. Still waiting...

[longboi]

Well if you want to campaign that way, feel free to do so.

I try to but everybody only cares about short term gimmicky solutions and shoots me down when I try and inject my point of view.

But that's a Tautology. So CityHopper is not a business? FREE Perth CAT buses are not a business? FREE CityLoop bus?
FREE BCC WiFi in parks? The reason why bridges do not have charges is because if they did, few would use them and thus benefits to the public would be low. This is the same case with the under-utilised CityFerries.

No, I'm saying it will be ultimately to the disadvantage to the bigger picture to go with this right here, right now (Unless BCC or somebody else foot the bill). All those other things have been done. Introducing free ferries would make a change to the current financial position as it is right now.

We already tried a major fare overhaul. Still waiting...

There are people working on it on a daily basis. It doesn't happen overnight in real life.

[techblitz]

LD please tell me where you got your figure of 9 million per annum cost for the maroon glider?
I would be very interested to know....

[#Metro]

Sure.

"It's been dubbed the $9 million 'food and footy' service, it's designed to run at fast-food speed and now City Hall has revealed when the much-touted maroon CityGlider bus service will kick off."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html#ixzz2ezqGVL00
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html

[techblitz]

Sure.

"It's been dubbed the $9 million 'food and footy' service, it's designed to run at fast-food speed and now City Hall has revealed when the much-touted maroon CityGlider bus service will kick off."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html#ixzz2ezqGVL00
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html

while I have nothing against new articles...

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/free-ride-ferries-to-cost-6-million-20120620-20o4n.html

sometimes LD you need to base your statements on a little more than just them....

Projects        2012-13         2013-14         2014-15       2015-16
                    $000             $000                $000           $000
Blue CityGlider Capital ----

Expenses     5,684            6,668              6,862          7,070
Revenue      4,282            4,381              4,508          4,645

Maroon CityGlider Capital ----

Expenses   2,250             2,250              2,250          2,250
Revenue    1,539             1,539              1,539          1,539

an old thread for you...

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8661.0

[Set in train]

So the draft city centre master plan has drawn the LM to say a bridge to Kangaroo Point within 5 years.

This is more reason the monohulls should be free.

I am disappointed (but not surprised) that only one bridge has been mentioned.

Beattie as Premier did some dreaming similar to this and envisaged two bridges from the city to the point and one on to New Farm near to the southern end of the river walk. This was a good idea. Two bridges on the town reach are needed.

[#Metro]

The monohulls already serve the same function as a bridge and run empty due to the very high costs. Just make them free and voila...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Ferry disappointment for Bulimba-Teneriffe

Brisbane's free City Hopper ferry will not hop between Bulimba and Teneriffe.

A push by residents on the city's east side to extend the free service to the busy cross river suburban route has been rejected by Brisbane City Council.

Nearly 300 residents signed a petition presented to the Public and Active Transport committee to extend the scheme.

Presently, it ferries passengers between Brisbane City and Kangaroo Point.

The Bulimba-Teneriffe passage is one of the busiest passenger routes on the Brisbane River and council officers have recommended the council reject the push on the grounds it would have "negative impacts on funding arrangements for Council's ferry services" and there would be no impact on customers if fares are retained.

The matter is due to go before Brisbane City Council at their Tuesday afternoon meeting.

Morningside ward councillor Shayne Sutton said providing a free ferry service was a cost effective way to help alleviate commuter congestion along Wynnum Road.

"This should be about equitable and accessible transport options throughout the city," she said.

"In my area, we have the Wynnum Road corridor, which is a heavily congested corridor and an upgrade is still a number of years away yet but again they have looked at this request in isolation.

"This is about creating less traffic and encouraging people to use public transport."

Cr Sutton said with the New Farm Riverwalk due for completion early next year, the free Bulimba-Teneriffe service would enable city commuters on the east side an alternative to Wynnum Road.

"There is a precedent here because the City Hopper service was made free, so if its good enough for the inner city, we need to extend that same level of service to people living further out," she said.

A free ferry service could be funded for 100 years for the same cost of a bridge construction between the two sides of the river, Cr Sutton said.

"This is a critical public transport link for the people of Bulimba wanting to catch a bus to destinations across the other side," she said.

"For me it's a no-brainer, I assure you I will not give up on this."

However, Public and Active Transport Chairman Peter Matic said city commuters who used the cross river service already faced no additional cost.

"Bulimba to the city is a two zone trip no matter whether you travel via bus on Wynnum Road or via the cross river ferry and the CityGlider or via the CityCats," he said.

"The fact the local councillor doesn't understand this is disappointing."

[SurfRail]

The fact Cr Mail-o-Matic doesn't understand that people frequently catch the ferry from one side to the other without transferring to a bus because they are cycling or walking is disappointing.

[James]

Another observed example of the Cr Shayne Sutton Effect. 

[#Metro]

Heaven Help Cr Nicole Johnston, how she gets anything done in her ward with the similar Cr Nicole Johnston Effect is also a miracle.

[#Metro]

Also immensely interesting how the Translink review buses that were high frequency died on the border of her ward and stopped at Morningside, to then continue as low frequency services into her area. No other area had this.

How city staff can reccomend not passing this on the basis of the budget while other obscene examples of wanton waste continue daily on the bus network like Maroon Cityglider et al (caught the 161 rocket home today, thank you BT, only 10 people on board, thank you ratepayers in all other parts of the city paying $400 to take me to my house and run EXPRESS almost the entire length there *takes bow*) is ludicrous.

[James]

Heaven Help Cr Nicole Johnston, how she gets anything done in her ward with the similar Cr Nicole Johnston Effect is also a miracle.

I think BCC is excused from being biased against her, some of the stuff she says is total and utter crap. I think she is a total idiot for opposing the frequent into Yeronga, and she also opposed the Sherwood bus depot in an absolutely NIMBY-style campaign even though its impact on the community was going to be minimal. Opposition to cyclists having conversations while riding past local houses was another laughable thing. I have a lot more respect for Sutton than I do Johnston.

[ozbob]

Media release 9th October 2013



SEQ: RAIL Back on Track supports Bulimba's call for Bulimba-Hopper

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 stands with the residents and businesses of Bulimba in their call for free city hopper ferries and a BulimbaGlider bus to their area. Bus services to Bulimba are an embarrassment for such a vibrant, inner city suburb that has late night restaurants and entertainment to offer to the people of Brisbane.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"We agree with the local councillor that all mono-hull ferry services within Brisbane should be free. The ferry service between New Farm Park and Norman Park should also be made free. After all, these ferries are performing the functions of what a bridge in the same location would do, and there's no toll for walking across any of the city's bridges. It is also important to remember that not all people cross the river to catch the bus on the other side."

"This is not the first time that the needs of the wider Bulimba community have been rejected by Brisbane City Council (BCC)."

"In 2009 the residents of raised public transport issues with Brisbane City Council's neighbourhood planning team. They complained about car congestion on Wynnum Road, Hawthorne Ferry being parked out, the frequency of all bus services needing improvement and that the cars were eroding the vibrancy of Oxford Street with people parking across driveways and excluding parking for residents' visitors. Yet, calls for a BulimbaGlider high frequency bus service were explicitly rejected by Brisbane City Council's Public and Active Chairman."

"There are almost 10,000 dwellings in Bulimba, Balmoral and Hawthorne combined. Each ratepayer is paying $400 annually in Brisbane City Council Bus Taxes to subsidise a deficient and defective bus service to their area. Indeed Bulimba, Balmoral and Hawthorne residents are collectively paying $4 million annually in subsidies to BCC, and thus, in part, are also paying for the free CityHopper ferries at Kangaroo Point and Maroon CityGlider to Ashgrove and Stones Corner, which are areas which already had high frequency services."

"What is the reason why Bulimba, Balmoral and Hawthorne residents are so consistently ignored? Is it because the local councillor is of the wrong political stripe and so the greatest effort to cause maximum hassle and fuss to get any improvements in her area are made?"

"Why is it that the most bus cuts appear to fall in ALP and Independent wards of the city?"

"Why is it that BCC has been able to provide free ferries to Kangaroo Point but not Bulimba?"

"Why is it that BCC has been unable to supply the high frequency bus services to Morningside, Yeronga, The Centenary Suburbs and the Northwest outlined in TransLink's bus review?"

"Why is it that BCC has been unable to deliver 2000 daily express buses down Legacy Way despite mailing Western Suburbs residents letters saying exactly this?"

"If BCC cannot look after its own residents, legislation should be passed in State Parliament to strip Brisbane City Council of all public transport functions."

References:

1. Bulimba District Neighbourhood Plan Community Planning Team (CPT) Meeting 2 Minutes Date: 10 September 2009 Time: 6.00pm to 8:10pm Location: St Peter and Pauls Church hall, 25 Main Ave, Bulimba http://goo.gl/ec1JRj

2. Calls for BulimbaGlider rejected http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/calls-for-bulimba-glider-rejected-20120201-1qtbt.html

3. Lord Mayor and BCC can no longer be trusted to run city's buses http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9895.0

4. Ferry disappointment for Bulimba-Teneriffe http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ferry-disappointment-for-bulimbateneriffe-20131008-2v5r2.html

Contact:

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

[somebody]

Well if you want to campaign that way, feel free to do so.

I try to but everybody only cares about short term gimmicky solutions and shoots me down when I try and inject my point of view.

Got to agree with this sentiment.  Gimmicks are absolutely not what we need.  9 then free is a gimmick, as is the free CityHopper.

[Gazza]

I think free CBD travel is a bit of a gimmick, but I do reckon the cross river ferries cost too much.

The river is a natural barrier, and it seems a bit unfair to charge peds/cyclists $3.28 to cross it (A one stop trip!). We do have a real shortage of bridges outside the CBD so it's not like we have an option.

To me it falls more into the community service obligation category.


Ideally i'd like to see GoCard programmed such that

Bretts Wharf<>Apollo Rd
Tennerrife <> Bulimba
New Farm <> Norman Park
Holman <> Eagle <> Thornton
West End <> Guyatt Park

all result in a fare of $0.

[Set in train]

[I think BCC is excused from being biased against her, some of the stuff she says is total and utter cr%p. I think she is a total idiot for opposing the frequent into Yeronga, and she also opposed the Sherwood bus depot in an absolutely NIMBY-style campaign even though its impact on the community was going to be minimal. Opposition to cyclists having conversations while riding past local houses was another laughable thing. I have a lot more respect for Sutton than I do Johnston.

That's what gets her elected against a very well funded LNP campaign, Nicole Johnston was re-elected as an independent easily.

It didn't matter that she opposed the extension of the frequent into Yeronga, the review was scrapped above her. What does matter is getting her to realise what she should now be lobbying for, understanding her error.

[SurfRail]

To be fair I think she understands the issue now - albeit too late to have made any useful noise, and after getting stuck into this group.

[Set in train]

To be fair I think she understands the issue now - albeit too late to have made any useful noise, and after getting stuck into this group.

Good to know, cheers.

[#Metro]

To be fair I think she understands the issue now - albeit too late to have made any useful noise, and after getting stuck into this group.

NO HIGH FREQUENCY SERVICES TO KADUMBA ST YERONGA

HA HA!!