15 Jan 2011: SEQ: Free public transport please use it

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 January 2011

SEQ:  Free public transport please use it

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 suggested that road traffic problems would be eased if more people accessed the free public transport available up to and including next Friday.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There have been many reports of severe traffic congestion.  The public transport system is up and running, buses and trains. There are no ticketing requirements for a week (1, 2).  Please use the public transport where you can.  This will help the recovery effort overall."

"Details of all public transport services can be found out on the TransLink website at http://www.translink.com.au"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5246.0

2. http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/weather-and-flood-affected-services

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 January 2011 re-released 18 January 2011

SEQ:  Free public transport please use it

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 suggested that road traffic problems would be eased if more people accessed the free public transport available up to and including next Friday.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There have been many reports of severe traffic congestion.  The public transport system is up and running, buses and trains. There are no ticketing requirements for this week (1, 2).  Please use the public transport where you can.  This will help the recovery effort overall."

"Details of all public transport services can be found out on the TransLink website at http://www.translink.com.au"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5246.0

2. http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/weather-and-flood-affected-services

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th January 2011

Greetings,

A special well done to all in the recovery.

We would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts by the bus drivers and support crews, the Queensland Rail staff at all levels, TransLink staff and the support of Government in maintaining public transport services almost at full service levels.  An extremely commendable effort.

Our ferry crews were proactive in preserving the fleet.  Well done.

Bringing forward Richlands rail has proved to be a significantly helpful move as well.

Please continue to push the option for folks to use public transport where they can.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Jonno]

When we want to move people in the most efficient manner it is public transport that saves the day be it football, concerts or natural disasters.  Why is it not he norm when we want to move larege volumes of people around our city everyday?

[#Metro]

Public Transport already has a large, if not the dominant, mode of transport into the CBD for work during peak hour. If peak hour capacity were increased, I would have no doubt that it would be quickly filled as travel demand ALWAYS exceeds supply during peak hour in medium and above sized cities.

The real market for expanding public transport is in the 'around town' trips- trips to the shops, errands, the doctors, jobs in the suburbs and off-peak services. This is currently market share held by the car, because car is the mode that does "anywhere to anywhere" at the moment, and only when PT is weaved into a general purpose all day network based on transfers will it be able to offer "anywhere to anywhere" destinations as destinations on the 'menu'.

I wish the authorities stopped looking at PT as a welfare service or commuter service only, and started to look at it as an all day general purpose service. Brisbane City Council has been active in this regard, with the BUZ.

And we have proof- the largest increases in patronage were on Sunday, now totally above even weekday levels of patronage pre-BUZification. The rates of ridership growth on BUZ well exceed that of population growth. Cut the waiting time and you will get more customers, lower the subsidy required and get a better city in the process.

[somebody]

And we have proof- the largest increases in patronage were on Sunday,

In percentage terms though.  It's easier to increase off a low base on that measure.

[#Metro]

Sunday patronage is higher than weekday patronage pre-BUZ.
We should be very glad about this. The reason why patronage is low in the off peak
and weekends might be more than just 'people are not going to work'.

[somebody]

I'd still be very surprised if Sunday patronage grew by more than weekday patronage in numerical terms.

[#Metro]

page 12- BT
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4367.msg33236#msg33236

[somebody]

Doesn't show the post BUZ weekday patronage.

[#Metro]

http://www.thredbo-conference-series.org/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf
page 4 give numbers, but can't seem to see the weekday numbers either.