5 Aug 2008: TransLink Transit Authority ? Please reconsider an amnesty ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 5 August 2008

SEQ:  TransLink Transit Authority ?  Please reconsider an amnesty for new go card users

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has again called for the Queensland Government and the TransLink Transit Authority  (TTA) to consider implementing a ?no questions? refund policy for new go card users for a short introductory period (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?When the go card was rolled out in February there was a general  ?no questions? refund policy on application for new users for a couple of months.  This helped to drive uptake as commuters became used to the system.?

?With the withdrawal of the ten trip tickets there will be a lot of new go card users.  The system is not yet completely reliable and many of these new users will cop touch penalties, particularly as they adapt to the new system.?

?If new go card users register their cards, they could be given an introductory period during which they can claim back touch penalties as they climb the go card learning curve. They would of course still pay the fare but be refunded promptly the difference.  This would help drive uptake and reduce the bitter public criticism of the go card that the faulty system and failure to refund touch penalties is generating.?

?It has been reported in the press that 6.5 percent of all go card journeys are resulting in touch penalties (2).  This is evidence as to why an amnesty period is advisable for new users. It can be argued that the go card system is not fit for purpose and go card users may well have just claims as the system is at times faulty. Putting new go card users through an ?inquisition? if they attempt to claim back touch penalties is counter-productive to good public transport policy.  The big risk is of course that commuters will abandon the go card and go back to buying cash tickets from drivers, and in so doing throw the system into timetable chaos.?

?We call on the TTA to please reconsider this call. Even a one month introductory period would do!?

References:

1.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1201.0

2.   Brisbane mX 4 August 2008 page one.

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Some people think that giving an amnesty is an invitation to rort the system. This is not the case at all, it is just simply allowing people to recover funds that due to either system or user error they have received.  TransLink state that if people regularly fail to touch off their card will be cancelled. It is obvious if someone is regularly rorting.  The proposal of an amnesty is to give some confidence that folks won't be out of pocket and encourage uptake.

I am told  constantly by colleagues, friends, people I met on the trains and buses that they will not use a go card because it is expensive and people they know have lost a lot of money on fines. Rightly or wrongly that is the perception.  Having a training period if you like, might help overcome some of that commuter resistance to the go card. Once they start using it, learn the ropes I am sure they will be confident.  System errors will always be refundable, but user errors not so. 

Just some thoughts ...

Cheers
Bob