12 Jan 2014: SEQ: BCC Bus Cost Explosion Engulfs Community

[ozbob]

Media release 12th January 2014



SEQ: BCC Bus Cost Explosion Engulfs Community

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 highlights growing community anger with the public transport cost explosions.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"One year on, it is now possible to observe the long term effect of Brisbane City Councillors opposing the TransLink bus review. In our opinion BCC's opposition has contributed to a cost explosion on public transport affecting all of SEQ. BCC does not set fares, but it does set bus supplier costs and obviously, higher costs equals higher fares."

"In our opinion, it is extraordinary that after two bus reviews, BCC's bus monopoly continues to operate a hi-waste service paradigm that operates buses as if they were taxi-style services. Naturally, this has led to taxi-style fare levels, along with $400 per council ratepayer subsidies to prop up the inefficient bus network."

"The cosmetic changes to the bus network, the fare gimmicks and spin tactics are now not working. Anger is spreading across family dinner tables around SEQ. Ordinary passengers are being affected and disillusioned."

"We call for the Queensland Government to reverse its 1925 decision to hand BCC public transport control. By losing control of the bus route planning to BCC, the Queensland Government has lost control of service costs and let ticket prices of public transport explode. BCC did not allow Brisbane Transport to properly cooperate with the TransLink during the main bus review process, effectively sabotaging real reform."

"It is a sad irony that the councillors that went around claiming that they were concerned about representing the interests of the disadvantaged and needy are the same people now responsible for causing a massive cost explosion that is slamming low income and the disadvantaged into the ground," concluded Robert Dow.

Here are some examples from the petition ( https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/scott-emerson-minister-for-transport-and-main-roads-reduce-translink-fares ) going around:

"I would be happy to pay premium prices for a premium service. However, as it stands the BCC transport service is far from premium."

"I cannot afford on minimum wage to get to my job."

"I'm currently on a Centrelink wage while I spend my days job searching. As the prices were before the new year rise I struggled with my budget just getting to and from maybe 3-4 interviews on a weekly basis. With the new prices I would be lucky to be able to make it to 2 while still paying my rent (A meagre $100 by the way) in addition to dedicating myself to full time job hunting."

"As a student on centrelink, current rates already eat a lot of my weekly budget. I simply can't afford more expensive rates. It is cheaper to drive!"

Robert Dow continued " We think this comment on the petition sums up our consistent position neatly:

Marc Fotsch-Heatley AUSTRALIA 'We could have such better services for cheaper if the network was rationally designed.'

"As we have always said, the sooner the bus network control is removed from BCC hands, the quicker the network can be re-organised to be efficient, properly mode integrated and fares lowered."

References:

1. SEQ: Bus cost explosion - zone one paper ticket fare breaks $5 barrier http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10447.0

2. Kangaroo Point 234 bus passengers upset over wait times and walking http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/city/kangaroo-point-234-bus-passengers-upset-over-wait-times-and-walking/story-fni9r0jy-1226749825307

3. Pensioner protest over bus route changes http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pensioner-protest-over-bus-route-changes-20131030-2whig.html

4. Scott Emerson, Minister for Transport and Main Roads: Reduce Translink fares
https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/scott-emerson-minister-for-transport-and-main-roads-reduce-translink-fares

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion on 2014 fares --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg137340#msg137340

Discussion on SEQ Bus network review --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg137342#msg137342

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th March 2014

SEQ - public transport is a mess

Greetings,

Fare affordability has never been worse.   
Minister confirms Premiers commitment re fares rubbish -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg139664#msg139664

Bus network is a shambles, cuts to many regions causing much local grief. This is essentially the result of not standing up to BCC and allowing BCC to run rough shod over TransLink and all other bus regions.
BCC Bus Cost Explosion Engulfs Community --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10458.msg137338#msg137338

Data that is made readily available in other states such as around the clock performance for all modes, detailed patronage by mode and route and so forth is hidden from the public in Queensland.  Something to hide?
Call for transparency and accuracy with public transport data  -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10357.msg134665#msg134665

Despite the puff pieces in the media all is not what is seems hey? Looking forward to election 2015?  We are ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Brisbane To Struggle Without Rail Investment 

--> http://brisbanedevelopment.com/brisbane-to-struggle-without-lightheavy-rail-investment/

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd April 2014

BCC bus passengers observed 'transferring' on bus network

Greetings,

Two stories from the media recently - first, how large volumes of passengers transferring
at Boggo Road from trains to buses going to UQ are causing enormous queues and second,
another story about how Bulimba residents are catching the ferry and then transferring to
the CityGlider bus for a journey to the CBD.

The presence of these passengers transferring at these locations on the BCC bus and ferry
networks violates a central tenet of BCC's public transport philosophy - that passengers
must be driven all the way to the CBD because they 'won't transfer' , even if this means
wasteful bus-bus or bus-train duplication or competition which pushes up fares for
everyone.

Connected networks allow more frequent services for the same fixed budget. Designing the
bus network to run 'taxi style' has led directly to rising 'taxi style' fare levels that many people
cannot afford to catch. The sooner the bus network is genuinely reformed, the sooner bus fare
costs can be brought under control.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

February 2014 public transport performance data TransLink Tracker Records Worsening Fare
Affordability KPI http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg140492#msg140492

Boggo Rd bus solution http://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2014/03/boggo-rd-bus-solution

Bulimba commuters frustrated by "lack of integration" between cross-river ferry and
CityGlider buses.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/east/bulimba-commuters-frustrated-by-lack-of-integration-between-crossriver-ferry-and-cityglider-buses/story-fni9r0lo-1226869984967

"Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html