15 Aug 2010: SEQ: Seniors week a missed go opportunity

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 August 2010

SEQ:  Seniors week a missed go opportunity

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 said the Seniors week would have been a good time to introduce some public transport initiatives for Seniors to facilitate community participation and activity by older people.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"You wouldn't know it but 14th to 22nd August 2010 is Seniors week (1).  Seniors are reeling from the price impacts of go card travel.  Unable to afford the 40% increase in paper fares many have resorted to using the go card.  A failure to have a capped fare for the go card as for other states has meant that many Seniors have now had to restrict public transport use and their community participation (2)."

"One of the aims of Seniors week is to increase community participation. To achieve this a Seniors capped fare on the red go card is needed.  This would actually return savings as health and well being is improved, as Seniors are then able to get out and about more often and would assist volunteers in their duties."

"It does appear that Seniors Week is another wasted opportunity."

References:

1. http://www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/seniors/events/seniorsweek/about/

2. 17 Feb 2010: SEQ: Time for a Go card Seniors Excursion Fare  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3447.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

I am not surprised there is an anti-labor sentiment in Queensland.

There are many initiatives that should have been done. It is not too late ...

Courier Mail --> Baseball bats ready for Labor

[ozbob]

The problem is the punters don't differentiate ..

Courier Mail -->  ALP states to blame, says Gillard

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks.

Yes, the Government has absolutely no idea of how they have destroyed the lives of active Pensioners,
I'm still using the paper, monthly (Concession, 2 Zone) which even after the 40% increase, costs a tad over $2 a day  -
I've tested a GoCard for a coupe of weeks & it cost me a least double (100%)
to do the things that keep me active and to help others (for example visiting elderly people in hostels etc, making & delivering wooden toys for sick/recovering children).

Robert, please put more pressure on to RETAIN the Monthly Paper Ticket, as from my observations  it is actually quicker to use than a GoCard (so that can't be used as a reason to withdraw it) & to help  retain a lifestyle of active Pensioners/volunteers like me.

[#Metro]

I'm still using the paper, monthly (Concession, 2 Zone) which even after the 40% increase, costs a tad over $2 a day  -
I've tested a GoCard for a coupe of weeks & it cost me a least double (100%)
to do the things that keep me active and to help others (for example visiting elderly people in hostels etc, making & delivering wooden toys for sick/recovering children).

Probably missed in the ticketing design stage. The main assumption seems to be that everyone is a 9-5 commuter. And so the ticketing system is designed around this assumption- that people will make maybe 2 trips a day.

There is a small but important number of people who use the PT system as if they were using a business car.
I agree, these are often community workers etc making appointments or visiting clients. I know of people in the community sector that use PT like this.
Many though have cars because of the costs, unreliability and (low) service levels of PT compared with car travel.

A capped ticketing scheme would have solved this.
A feeder bus network connecting to rail would add more destinations and make it simpler to go to more places.

[longboi]

The problem is the punters don't differentiate ..

Courier Mail -->  ALP states to blame, says Gillard

Compulsory voting at work