21 Feb 2010: SEQ: Call for a Public Transport Day

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 February 2010

SEQ:  Call for a Public Transport Day

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 called for a day to be identified and promoted as public transport day.  All travel on public transport on that day be free and not requiring of a ticket.  This would encourage people to get out on our public transport system in many cases for the first time. This would then assist and subsequently encourage more people to use public transport and in so doing generate very significant economic benefit for our community.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport in south-east Queensland is a complex system.  Bus, rail and ferry combine to provide an impressive network of considerable size and capability."

"One disincentive for folks to make the switch is uncertainty of ticketing requirements. If a day was promoted where ticket less travel would be possible, folks could get on the buses, trains and ferries and gain confidence with our public transport without worrying about ticketing."

"As part of the promotion, Helping Hands could be out on the network with information and advice for new users."

"We believe the loss of the fare box revenue for that day would be more than offset by longer term gains in terms of increased public transport patronage, reduced congestion, lessened environmental impacts, and reduced road trauma costs."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Some global examples of similar initiatives ..

France

USA

South Africa

[ButFli]

Do we really need more people on public transport? I can barely fit on the bus in the morning as it is.

[ozbob]

Yes we do, plenty of room with the promised extra services ... 

One way of getting them ..

[Jon Bryant]

Great idea.  Not just to help with understanding the ticketing but also working out the services that are there.  The more peoplebon public transport the better our economy will be.

[#Metro]

I'm a bit skeptical.
When the Riverside Expressway was closed, lots of people went to public transport for about a week.
When the Expressway was opened again, all those people went back to their old habits.

If something like this were to work, it would need to gain critical mass- so something like a combined walk to work day, plus cycle to work plus free public transport on the same day. I would advocate for the Riverside Expressway to be closed for the day (controversial) but they do it in Bogota. People could have a morning fun run over the expressway...

[longboi]

If something like this were to work, it would need to gain critical mass- so something like a combined walk to work day, plus cycle to work plus free public transport on the same day. I would advocate for the Riverside Expressway to be closed for the day (controversial) but they do it in Bogota. People could have a morning fun run over the expressway...

That would be political suicide =P

[#Metro]

Oh, but they quite happily shut down the busway and the gateway for fun runs and cycling events.
Why should riverside expressway be a sacred cow?

[ozbob]

Some like minded initiatives ...

China

Singapore

Denmark

Europe

[ButFli]

Oh, but they quite happily shut down the busway and the gateway for fun runs and cycling events.
Why should riverside expressway be a sacred cow?

They would never shut down the Gateway or a busway for a fun run in week day morning peak hour.

[O_128]

Do we really need more people on public transport? I can barely fit on the bus in the morning as it is.

Hence the recent huge fare increases