Did anyone use Easter to travel free on the new super buses?

[Mozz]

It seems that most of the media have picked up and run with a story about the imminent arrival of super buses on Queensland roads. However upon reading one article a tad longer than just the subject line, the story appears to be quite different to the spin:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/giant-superbuses-to-hit-brisbanes-streets/2008/03/23/1206206901084.html

Apparently we aren't about to be over run by large buses, but expressions of interest are soon to be released including internationally seeking proposals to potentially build large buses which may then be taken up by through a process called "purchasing" which is then followed by ordering and then the long process of building and deploying.

Smoke, mirrors and more smoke on a serious public transport issue (lack of available buses).

But apparently trials "may" begin as early as next year.

Seriously though, this sort of spin needs to remain locked up from broad media publicity until the nuts and bolts are sorted and probably the order placed rather than teasing the long suffering public transport commuters with this sort of hype. Right here and now and into the short to medium term, many thousands of bus commuters will see full buses fly past their stop. Long term planning is great but here and now actions to address current issues are the priority.

[ozbob]

I am not convinced that buses that can carry up to 200 pax, more likely 150 pax will be anything other than a short term limited solution to easing some congestion on the bus ways.  The artics carry about 90 pax and yet they have not solved the problems.  It is unlikely that triple artics will either.  Buses are great in their proper role but not dressed up as trains. Buses on busways will only ever approach 7000 pax per hour. Heavy rail can easily achieve 30000 pax per hour in the same space. Light rail done right can actually transport even more pax.

The solution is a no-brainer to all except the Queensland Government and Queensland Transport.