8 Jun 2011: SEQ: City Cycle scheme - how to fix it without consultants fees ..

[ozbob]

Media release 8 June 2011

SEQ: City Cycle scheme - how to fix it without consultants fees ..

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers strongly supports the City Cycle scheme in principle (1, 2).  It can be fixed up so that is immediately popular and returns economic benefit to our community.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There are two fundamental issues that are causing poor usage rates of CityCycle."

"The first is helmet availability.  Increase the the number of outlets and provide helmet vending systems at locations not serviced by a direct helmet outlet."

"The second action is to integrate CityCycle with the go card. Registered go card users are an instant user base for CityCycle and it would be sensible to integrate CityCycle into the overall public and active transport network by making it go card friendly. The expense of making CityCycle go card friendly we believe should be shared equally between TransLink and the Brisbane City Council."

"Do that and the scheme is a success!"

References:

1. 27 Feb 2011: SEQ: Integration the key to unlock CityCycle potential http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5493.msg48825#msg48825

2. 9 Oct 2010: SEQ: CityCycle scheme welcomed! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4605.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6158.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th July 2011

An absurd contradiction - CityCycle

Greetings,

Captured this happy snap in the City yesterday morning (below).  It is an absurd contradiction.
Two things are really causing the slow uptake of CityCycle:

a.  helmet availability
b.  lack of an universal smart card access.

The go card provides the opportunity for an instant user base for City Cycle.  Surely some arrangement can be worked out to allow registered go users direct access to CityCycle with a go card?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org





==========================

Media release 8 June 2011

SEQ: City Cycle scheme - how to fix it without consultants fees ..

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers strongly supports the City Cycle scheme in principle (1, 2).  It can be fixed up so that is immediately popular and returns economic benefit to our community.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There are two fundamental issues that are causing poor usage rates of CityCycle."

"The first is helmet availability.  Increase the the number of outlets and provide helmet vending systems at locations not serviced by a direct helmet outlet."

"The second action is to integrate CityCycle with the go card. Registered go card users are an instant user base for CityCycle and it would be sensible to integrate CityCycle into the overall public and active transport network by making it go card friendly. The expense of making CityCycle go card friendly we believe should be shared equally between TransLink and the Brisbane City Council."

"Do that and the scheme is a success!"

References:

1. 27 Feb 2011: SEQ: Integration the key to unlock CityCycle potential http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5493.msg48825#msg48825

2. 9 Oct 2010: SEQ: CityCycle scheme welcomed! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4605.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Gazza]

A 3rd point I'd add....Just put in credit card readers! Makes it instantaneously accessible to everyone, including tourists.

[ozbob]

From  the Brisbanetimes click here!

CityCycle fees to be slashed

CityCycle fees to be slashed
Tony Moore
August 11, 2011 - 6:09PM

CityCycle hire prices will be slashed to $2 a day as part of a raft of new measures to boost the scheme.

It will be part of a raft of new measures to be announced by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk on Sunday that will come into effect from August 22.

The daily subscription will be cut from $11 a day to $2 a day and a new $11 weekly subscription will be introduced.

On Monday, brisbanetimes.com.au flagged changes to the scheme would be announced "very soon".

Cr Quirk said the changes were being put into place after a review of the scheme over several weeks.

"The scheme is an Australian first and since becoming Lord Mayor I've monitored it closely and taken the feedback we've received about CityCycle very seriously," Cr Quirk said.

"I am reducing the daily subscription to $2 which will cost less than the price of a single zone Go Card trip."

Cr Quirk said he wanted people to try the scheme for themselves, which was the philosophy behind the price cut.

"This change in pricing is designed to encourage visitors to our city to use CityCycle and also encourage Brisbane residents to give it a go for a day or a week and see for themselves what it's like," he said.

"We always said the scheme was designed to be an evolution not a revolution but we have continued to see a steady increase in usage as more and more stations have been built."

Cr Quirk said any reduction in subscriber costs would be borne by scheme operators JCDecaux, not ratepayers.

JCDecaux are receiving a quarterly payment from Brisbane City Council ranging from $73,000 (January 2011) to $143,000 (March 2011) based on the number of CityCycles in operation.

According to Brisbane City Council, CityCycle trips increased from 1,300 weekly trips in the first seven months of the scheme to about 2,000 since the 100th station opened in May.

Cr Quirk said he understood there were factors holding back the scheme.

"Feedback indicates that subscription costs, access to helmets and the subscription process have been barriers to more people subscribing to CityCycle, so we've focused on these issues when developing these improvements," he said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/citycycle-fees-to-be-slashed-20110811-1ioiw.html

[O_128]

Price is an issue but its the helmet law!, no one wants to lug a helmet around.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bid to link CityCycle with Go Card quashed

Bid to link CityCycle with Go Card quashed
Bridie Jabour
March 19, 2012 - 6:08AM

A bid by Brisbane City Council to allow residents to use a Go Card to hire CityCycle bikes has been rejected by Queensland Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk, who says taxpayers should not be called upon to prop up the "failing" scheme.

However, council says the move would cost no money and has accused the government of putting political differences ahead of commuters' needs.

brisbanetimes.com.au has obtained a letter sent from BCC Chairman for Public and Active Transport Julian Simmonds to Ms Palaszczuk in January in which Cr Simmonds revealed council officers were in negotiations with TransLink to link the CityCycle to the Go Card.
Advertisement: Story continues below

"Advice from CityCycle operator JCDecaux is that the scheme is currently equipped with the technology to incorporate this improvement however the Go Card is the property of the state government, (and TransLink) approval is required to enable this function,'' the letter said.

Launched in early 2011 by then Brisbane lord mayor Campbell Newman, CityCycle suffered well documented problems in attracting participants, prompting Mr Newman's successor Graham Quirk to roll out a series of improvements including free helmets in August.

Council claims usage of the bikes has risen 87 per cent since the changes were introduced, and that allowing users to hire a bike with a Go Card would help streamline the process.

But Ms Palaszczuk refused to allow the Go Card to be used to hire a bike.

''It is no secret that CityCycle, introduced by former lord mayor Campbell Newman, is a total and abject failure," she said.

"I am advised the most recent public figures show 60% of CityCycles remain entirely idle every single day.

"Now in an attempt to save this failed scheme the Council want people from Redlands, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and regions all over Queensland to prop it up.

"I can only assume that incorporating CityCycle into the Go Card system would inevitably mean the financial liability of this failing scheme would be placed on Queensland taxpayers, who already contribute significant sums to support public and active transport."

Cr Simmonds last night rejected Ms Palaszcuk's claim and questioned the timing of her response which he said appeared to be a desperate attempt to play political games on the eve of an election.

"Adding CityCycle to the Go Card scheme comes at no cost to the ratepayer or the state government yet once again Minister Palaszczuk is blocking the progress of Brisbane's public transport network in a game of dirty tactics," he said.

"This was an improvement to the scheme which is continually asked for by users, and it's all set to go at the push of a button. All the Minister had to do was agree, but even over a simple request to help people she continues to put politics first."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/bid-to-link-citycycle-with-go-card-quashed-20120318-1vdgt.html

[ozbob]

Media release 8 June 2011 re-released 19 March 2012

SEQ: City Cycle scheme - how to fix it without consultants fees ..

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers strongly supports the City Cycle scheme in principle (1, 2).  It can be fixed up so that is immediately popular and returns economic benefit to our community.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There are two fundamental issues that are causing poor usage rates of CityCycle."

"The first is helmet availability.  Increase the the number of outlets and provide helmet vending systems at locations not serviced by a direct helmet outlet."

"The second action is to integrate CityCycle with the go card. Registered go card users are an instant user base for CityCycle and it would be sensible to integrate CityCycle into the overall public and active transport network by making it go card friendly. The expense of making CityCycle go card friendly we believe should be shared equally between TransLink and the Brisbane City Council."

"Do that and the scheme is a success!"

References:

1. 27 Feb 2011: SEQ: Integration the key to unlock CityCycle potential  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5493.msg48825#msg48825

2. 9 Oct 2010: SEQ: CityCycle scheme welcomed!  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4605.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org