3 Oct 2012: SEQ: CityCycle scheme 'designed to fail' - fix it!

[ozbob]

Media release 3 October 2012

SEQ: CityCycle scheme 'designed to fail' - fix 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 passengers has called for full electronic ticketing on public transport by the end of 2013 and introduction of GoCard for CityCycle (1,2,3,4,5,6).


http://backontrack.org/images/ntours/24jul11/n3.jpg

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track members are concerned about the underwhelming take up of CityCycle, particularly in proportion to its running costs. We want more people to use CityCycle and we want to see it used as a feeder mode to public transport and to get around faster without using a car. "

"There are many problems with the scheme - today a Crikey Blogger and prominent Urbanist Alan Davies has done an analysis piece on Brisbane's CityCycle scheme and also it has come to our attention that a research paper detailing CityCycle's problems have now been published in the Journal Transportation Research Part F (1)."

"The research paper reveals what we at RAIL Back On Track have known all along - that many people feel that city cycling infrastructure is lacking which makes cycling unsafe, helmets are a major issue, the sign up process is a major deterrent and the inability to 'swipe and go' repels people.

"We again call for the integration of GoCard with CityCycle, as was promised in the lead up to the state election. Within the research paper it quotes this: 'Everyone in Brisbane has a Go Card. If you've got one of them, you should be able to ride CityCycle. You've got a card, swipe, go'." and 'You would double or triple usage rates straight away" (if integrated with Go Card)'"

"The time has come to integrate GoCard with CityCycle and unlock full potential of the scheme. What needs to happen before Brisbane City Council and the State Government act?"

"Tourist go card, years coming ... integration of CityCycle and go card, years coming ... an absurd anti-public transport fare system which TransLink continues to fail to comprehend is botched ... and a government that continues to promise but fails to deliver."

"Queensland - a state of public and active transport failure!"

Contact:

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

References:

1. Barriers and facilitators to public bicycle scheme use: A qualitative approach  Original Research Article
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, Volume 15, Issue 6, November 2012, Pages 686-698, Elliot Fishman, Simon Washington, Narelle Haworth
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2012.08.002

2. Campbell Newman would link CityCycle to Go Card
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/campbell-newman-would-link-citycycle-to-go-card-20120415-1x15t.html

3. LNP would consider CityCycle/Go Card link
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/lnp-would-consider-citycyclego-card-link-20120318-1vdgt.html

4. Swipe Go Card for CityCycle Hire
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/swipe-go-card-to-hire-citycycle-bike/story-e6freoof-1226326872114

5. SEQ: State Government contributes to CityCycle failure?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7915.msg91315#msg91315

6. Image (juxtaposition with bike station highlights absurdity of not being able to use GoCard)
http://backontrack.org/images/ntours/24jul11/n3.jpg

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4398.msg110050#msg110050

[ozbob]

4KQ News have followed up on this issue.  Thank you!

[ozbob]

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Friday, November 30, 2012

go card touches on CityCycle

Active and public transport ticketing will be integrated for the first time from today with go card available for use on Brisbane City Council's CityCycle.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said go card holders would be able to link to a CityCycle account from Friday.

"By working together the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council are about to make it even easier to transfer between bus, train, ferry and now bicycle," Mr Emerson said.

"It's the first time go card has been linked to a function other than public transport.

"Despite making perfect sense the Labor government buried their head in ideological sand falsely claiming go card users would be liable for, or propping up, CityCycle in some way.

"Instead, under the LNP both levels of government have been able to work together and deliver for active transport and public transport users at no additional cost."

CityCycle account holders can go on-line (www.citycycle.com.au (external site)) to link their accounts to their go card. go cards will still be able to be topped up in the usual way – on line, auto top-up or at a go card retailer or ticket machine.

Both accounts currently remain separate and the discounts and incentives that apply to both schemes remain separate.

Council Public and Active Transport Chairman Peter Matic said the ability to move seamlessly between the different types of transport was an exciting step forward for the growing CityCycle scheme.

"CityCycle is growing, is now used by an average of 4,500 people a week and has been used on more than 300,000 trips since its inception two years ago," Mr Matic said.

"Having the go card linked with CityCycle will help encourage people to use public or active transport and reduce congestion on our roads.

"I'm pleased that both levels of government, working with contractors Cubic (go card) and JCDecaux (CityCycle) have been able to make this breakthrough."

[ozbob]

Full details --> http://www.citycycle.com.au

[ozbob]

Discussion thread CityCycle --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4398.msg113852#msg113852

[SurfRail]

This is a good move, and I am severely disappointed that Annastacia was opposed to it.

[Stillwater]

This is a refreshing development, as it focusses on what initiatives the LNP government can achieve, in its own right, without harking back to Labor's handling of transport.  Mr Emerson was a serial offender in this regard, constantly telling us that Labor is the reason he can't do anything.  Maybe we have turned a corner - next stop the fare structure.

[Jonno]

I am sure there are 2 sides to this story as there are in all stories.