EXCLUSIVE: First images of BCC Not Broken (TM) Bus Network!

[#Metro]

There is no map of the entire Brisbane bus network coded by frequency.
Why not? Toronto and other places manage to have maps of their entire system.
---> CLICK HERE FOR TORONTO SYSTEM MAP

Of course we ALL know the real reasons behind why there is no map. It would be too complex and perhaps too embarrasing to display. So it has never to my knowledge been published. Until today. So I guess this is my Xmas gift to RBOT.

You do get a feeling that these first images are of the same league of seeing the first images of some distant and mystical planet being beamed from some far away place in deep space. And it is fascinating to know we are probably spending close to a billion dollars to prop up this bus network and $400 per ratepayer and what are we getting? Hourly bus services or services that exist only for a fleeting morning or afternoon peak and then they're - gone - .

Enjoy! It is going to be SO much harder now we have a map to claim 'the bus network is not broken.'


Instructions on uploading the file for the BCC Hi-Waste (TM) Bus Network into Google Maps or Google Earth.

https://support.google.com/mapsenginelite/answer/3024937?hl=en

Red = High Frequency Bus (15 mins or better; measured at midday on a weekday)

Black = Standard (low) frequency bus (30 minutes; measured at midday on a weekday)

Blue = Peak hour or limited span service

Other = 15 minute frequency rail lines are shown in Green (Darra-Northgate)
and Red (Ferny Grove - Park Rd).

I apologise ahead of time for any errors etc, this was a mammoth task but the product is now very very valuable as a research tool to us. There are two non-BT routes included for network completeness. People are free to alter the .kml file to update their own version and share as they wish.

[#Metro]

The image quality is not great when uploaded... so I reccomend going to the Google KML file (follows).
But you get the idea...

[#Metro]

Instructions on uploading the file for the BCC Hi-Waste (TM) Bus Network into Google Maps or Google Earth.

.kml file can also be opened in Google Earth program.

https://support.google.com/mapsenginelite/answer/3024937?hl=en

SEE ATTACHMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST

[ozbob]

Thanks for this. I haven't had the opportunity yet to look at it all in detail, but it certainly sounds alarm bells!

[#Metro]

Some expansions on sections of the BCC HWBN:

You can already see there is something wrong with Old Cleveland Rd- excessive # of bus services on it, to the detriment of other parts of the city. The gross poverty of PT in Centenary, Bulimba, Yeronga, The Northwest (Albany Ck etc) and Wynnum really shows up nicely.







(c) Google Maps and others, 2013

[#Metro]

1st correction - I think the extra non-BT bus for Redcliffe Penisula may be swapped. Its a non-material error though, I couldn't tell which route was which operator from reading the brochure (had both operator's logos on the front).

[James]

Lapdog, 315 is Horninbrook buses, not BT. You can remove it probably.

That map sure is impressive. Very well done Lapdog!

[#Metro]

Look at Yeronga and Bulimba. All those do gooder politicians "saving" the bus services - they have done nothing of the kind. Look how enormously COMPLEX it is!! No, they have systematically and incrementally made the system like a dead bush in dire need of pruning.

The busway, which is hyped on about incessantly, has done almost nothing for the overall wider network in terms of frequency and simplicity or connections. Look at the rail system frequency - only two lines show up with decent frequency (I have not shown anything with less than 15 min freq. on rail as at that frequency, the service virtually does not exist to a passenger rushing off to an urgent meeting). UBAT will not solve this issue either. The system is broken, and now I have the hard evidence to prove it so.

Also very concerning is the utter lack of business case (Net present value and BCR) for the UBAT, alternatives analysis for modal choice (I think a metro re: Vancouver Skytrain would be much more efficient) appears to have NOT been done (why!?). It is a bit of a conflict of interest IMHO that BCC is involve in the UBAT as it is both a local gov't and a commercialized bus operator. Would you let the CEO of a private bus company decide what infrastructure does/does not get built in a city? Most people I think would say no. And so why is is OK here then?

[ozbob]

Lapdog, 315 is Horninbrook buses, not BT. You can remove it probably.

That map sure is impressive. Very well done Lapdog!

[bcasey]

Very good job. I'm assuming you used the GTFS shape file to map these out, otherwise doing it manually would have taken ages.

A couple corrections for the routes that I usually take.

You have incorrectly numbered the P344 as P334. The route itself looks correct insofar as the part that I use.

For the 335, it looks like you have taken the outbound route, as the inbound route is slightly different within Fortitude Valley and the City. For the outbound route, the KML goes a bit too far along Wickham street, before doubling back to go up Brunswick Street.

The 325 looks correct for the part that I take.

[Cam]

I'm not posting anything new by stating that plenty of BCC buses could be freed up if some routes that travel to the CBD were terminated at railway stations they passed e.g. Altandi or at major shopping centres where passengers could transfer to other frequent services to the CBD. The single seat journey to the city mentality is effectively denying numerous suburbs of frequent services.

In a decade or two when passenger rail services travel to Greenbank and/or Flagstone, will services such as the 130 terminate at an Algester or Parkinson railway station, Sunnybank Hills/Sunnybank shopping centres or continue into the CBD?

[#Metro]

One thing that is immediately obvious is that even with UBAT constructed, the basic layout of the bus network will not change, and thus continue to be deficient, defective, expensive and low frequency to the majority of city residents (miracle at City Hall not withstanding). This is very concerning. Only a full and proper bus review will suffice.

[James]

This is why there should be no bus infrastructure built in the CBD. It simply isn't necessary and is a waste of money.

BUM will only further encourage the firing of rockets all over the CBD while doing absolutely nothing to achieve off-peak frequency increases/money savings. Pax at Kenmore should not be using a bus to get to the CBD, especially in peak. Rail is faster to the City even with Legacy Way + BUM.

[Jonno]

Would love a infographic show what % of the city is covered (within 800m) of a High Frequency Route including Rail Lines.

[#Metro]

Download the file and start drawing circles my friend.

[#Metro]

This is why there should be no bus infrastructure built in the CBD. It simply isn't necessary and is a waste of money.

BUM will only further encourage the firing of rockets all over the CBD while doing absolutely nothing to achieve off-peak frequency increases/money savings. Pax at Kenmore should not be using a bus to get to the CBD, especially in peak. Rail is faster to the City even with Legacy Way + BUM.

BUM is unlikely to do ANYTHING about the 50% air buses transporting volumes of air to the CBD as this is a result of the different stop patterns and lack of interchange to expel the air.

[Golliwog]

Would love a infographic show what % of the city is covered (within 800m) of a High Frequency Route including Rail Lines.

Pretty sure there was a research project done at UQ that got published somewhere that looked at access to Brisbane PT network at different times of the day/week. I don't believe they distinguished by 'type' of route though, just how many residences were withing 800m walking distance of a bus/train/ferry stop.

[Gazza]

Download the file and start drawing circles my friend.

Another easy option is just to increase the line thickness and make it transparent so that it creates a shadow of the coverage zone.

[Golliwog]

Download the file and start drawing circles my friend.

Another easy option is just to increase the line thickness and make it transparent so that it creates a shadow of the coverage zone.

And/or work out how to download all the stop location from Translink via their Google Map stop locations/nearby stops feature.

[aldonius]

Never realised that the 204 was a semi-BUZ!

[#Metro]

390 is as well. There are a few of these 'secret BUZ' routes around the city. I am refining the BBC-HWBN (Hi-Waste Bus Network), and will have better images - stay tuned!!

[James]

To extend on the semi-BUZ network - the 124/125, 174/175 and 230/235 are all routes which combine to provide 15 minute frequency during the weekdays somewhere along the route. There are others which provide near 15 minute frequency like the 210/212 and the 427/428/432 (ignoring the fact that due to timetabling and express pattern mediocrity, the service is not clockface and does not provide 15 minute frequency to any stops between Indro and UQ aside from the Bonvale Lane stop!). 204, 370, 375, 390 are all full time semi-BUZ routes.

The 470 in fact used to be in the same semi-BUZ boat until BCC's bus cost explosion engulfed it.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I just still can't understand why Gympie Road has 3 buz services a couple semi buz routes in the form of the 370/375 and other random services that branch on like the 334 and 379. It's.....blah. I don't care anymore.

[techblitz]

Geez...All those routes including repeats from james and you forget the 300
Probably one of the few ideas that BT will take from the TL review and eventually upgrade it to full time buz.....

[HappyTrainGuy]

Ooooo watchout everybody. We didn't mention the 300 route. Careful what you say now.   

[James]

Geez...All those routes including repeats from james and you forget the 300
Probably one of the few ideas that BT will take from the TL review and eventually upgrade it to full time buz.....

300 is only every 20 minutes. If it combined with the 301 to give 15 minute frequency, I'd include it.

It is a near-near-BUZ. Maybe including the 210/212 was a bit of a stretch, but if TransLink wasn't so inept at what they did and all-stopped the 432, evened out all the dumb timetable variations and stupid half-hour gaps which exist while buses run out of service in the direction in which the service gaps exist, you could very easily have 15 minute frequency to Indro along the Hawken Drive and a part of the Swann Road corridor at minimal cost.

230/235 frequency during the weekdays is actually reasonable, especially given that Riding/Hawthorne are close enough together that the area has more-or-less 15 minute frequency in the interpeak. The weekend and night time frequency, however, is absolute and total trash given that the area is a dining precinct, and it has that stupid loop thingy which nobody understands. The 411 route gets better service on a weeknight and Saturday, yet the only "dining" along that route not served by the 412 is two restaurants and a cafe which closes on Sunday at the Ironside shops.

I just still can't understand why Gympie Road has 3 buz services a couple semi buz routes in the form of the 370/375 and other random services that branch on like the 334 and 379. It's.....blah. I don't care anymore.

Because Gympie Road obviously needs 24bph. Just like Coronation Drive. And Old Cleveland Road.

[techblitz]

Near near buz....

[HappyTrainGuy]

314 is a far far far far far far haha yes really this far away from a buz

[James]

Near near buz....

Well its not a BUZ, and its not a near-BUZ (nor provides any corridor with intentionally timetabled near-BUZ frequency), so it gets the name of a near-near-BUZ.

I don't see BCC BUZing the 300 though without further cutting the 301 first, though. There is no more money available, BCC either needs to reform the network or continue to face cutting routes in order to stop costs from spiralling out of control.

Future service cuts are going to hit frequent secondary routes hard - and they will not be the hourly ones. They will be routes like the 170, 209, 301, 350, 379/380/381, 470, 475 - all which were half-hourly and subsequently downgraded to hourly frequency either on weekends or during the off-peak. These are significantly anti-patronage moves. I can live with half-hourly routes - in fact in many places, half-hourly is acceptable. Hourly isn't.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yep. Pretty much in Brisbane 30 minutes should be the minimum standard with none of this hourly route stuff (there are times  and a place for hourly routes however). Having hourly routes is just a joke trying to get more people onto PT. You just have to try using PT around Strathpine, Warner, Bray Park and Lawnton to see why the park and rides are always full while the buses are somewhat empty with 2 cars parked in every driveway.

[#Metro]

Let's face it, the whole thing is becoming one giant expensive Limousine service - flashy hi-waste bus services with low frequency everywhere. Rich can only afford to get on board (no unemployed discounts etc!). Personalised home rocket services and dedicated tunnel to boot running parallel to trains.

[James]

Let's face it, the whole thing is becoming one giant expensive Limousine service - flashy hi-waste bus services with low frequency everywhere. Rich can only afford to get on board (no unemployed discounts etc!). Personalised home rocket services and dedicated tunnel to boot running parallel to trains.

The network isn't turning into it - it already is. This sort of waste has been going on for the last 10 years (i.e. since integrated ticketing came in). You could even say the waste existed along the main road corridors with excessive duplication (Coro Drive comes to mind, as does Gympie Road). At least pre-integrated ticketing the running of the 111 parallel to the 555 and the 200 parallel to the 250 was justifiable, now especially in the instance of the former, it is inherently wasteful.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Let's face it, the whole thing is becoming one giant expensive Limousine service - flashy hi-waste bus services with low frequency everywhere. Rich can only afford to get on board (no unemployed discounts etc!). Personalised home rocket services and dedicated tunnel to boot running parallel to trains.

The network isn't turning into it - it already is. This sort of waste has been going on for the last 10 years (i.e. since integrated ticketing came in). You could even say the waste existed along the main road corridors with excessive duplication (Coro Drive comes to mind, as does Gympie Road). At least pre-integrated ticketing the running of the 111 parallel to the 555 and the 200 parallel to the 250 was justifiable, now especially in the instance of the former, it is inherently wasteful.

Oh if only the Brisbane network could be fully redesigned to allow for more feeder routes that fed between and into railway lines and key interchange facilities/stops along high frequency corridors. Higher capacity vehicles could then only be assigned to the high frequency corridors instead of seeing them pop up onto some of the quieter routes on the network 

I said something similar when they announced the mods on the northside (wanted to see a network redesign rather than buzzing this and that, extending this route there and making a new route here) that I found interesting was when the 330/340 buz and 369 semi buz came in hardly any other routes were modified/cut in places to accept these changes. That would have been a good time to redesign the network around those areas to make use of these extra services along certain corridors.

[STB]

Let's face it, the whole thing is becoming one giant expensive Limousine service - flashy hi-waste bus services with low frequency everywhere. Rich can only afford to get on board (no unemployed discounts etc!). Personalised home rocket services and dedicated tunnel to boot running parallel to trains.

The network isn't turning into it - it already is. This sort of waste has been going on for the last 10 years (i.e. since integrated ticketing came in). You could even say the waste existed along the main road corridors with excessive duplication (Coro Drive comes to mind, as does Gympie Road). At least pre-integrated ticketing the running of the 111 parallel to the 555 and the 200 parallel to the 250 was justifiable, now especially in the instance of the former, it is inherently wasteful.

Oh if only the Brisbane network could be fully redesigned to allow for more feeder routes that fed between and into railway lines and key interchange facilities/stops along high frequency corridors. Higher capacity vehicles could then only be assigned to the high frequency corridors instead of seeing them pop up onto some of the quieter routes on the network 

I said something similar when they announced the mods on the northside (wanted to see a network redesign rather than buzzing this and that, extending this route there and making a new route here) that I found interesting was when the 330/340 buz and 369 semi buz came in hardly any other routes were modified/cut in places to accept these changes. That would have been a good time to redesign the network around those areas to make use of these extra services along certain corridors.

TransLink themselves pointed this out in their report.  Unfortunately with Brisbane City Council as big and as powerful as they are, without the State intervening and either redoing the Council boundaries or taking public transport powers off BCC in particular, not much is going to happen.  As we all know, BCC think they are the only operator in SEQ and they will intimidate and use emotional blackmail to keep it that way.  And of course, routes don't change around a BUZ or Semi-BUZ, because BCC just want extra money from the State, who pay for these routes to run.  BCC are effectively using the State as a automatic teller machine with almost no limit.  Meanwhile, fares go up to cover the extra costs and maintain the subsidy and the outer regions lose out due to a lack of funds as BCC is sucking up most of it, basically laughing all the way to the bank.

[techblitz]

I remember doubting the 369 route within days of its implementation as it was just a slight rework of the hourly 358....I think I will add that to my highlights of 2013...its cutback of frequency...
369 has been made further obsolete for people wishing to get from Toombul to RBWH...no need to connect via Kedron brook anymore...just take a 310.....in the offpeak its a seriously fast connection for getting from Toombul to the gabba...310 into a 340...enough to make HTG cringe 
The Toombul side 310/315 bus stop is now closer to the shopping centre as well.

Just on this region....there is now regular confusion at skygate for 590 passengers (mainly from southside residents) as they are regularly waiting at the wrong stops....something I will be chasing up next year....along with the ridiculous `no avm` at indro bus station issue..

[techblitz]

@stb

take note of when newman is on tv... and how close you see quirky behind him..gives you the general picture doesn't it......a former Brisbane mayor in front of the current Brisbane mayor. Does the word prodigy ring a bell? 

ps: heard yesterday from a Harley Davidson owner (who has been pulled over many times recently)...that newman is a bit of a facebook fan...if anyone wants to get through to the big cheese directly...facebook would seem to be the go....but don't insult/ threaten/harass as you could land yourself in hot water

[James]

I remember doubting the 369 route within days of its implementation as it was just a slight rework of the hourly 358....I think I will add that to my highlights of 2013...its cutback of frequency...
369 has been made further obsolete for people wishing to get from Toombul to RBWH...no need to connect via Kedron brook anymore...just take a 310.....in the offpeak its a seriously fast connection for getting from Toombul to the gabba...310 into a 340...enough to make HTG cringe 
The Toombul side 310/315 bus stop is now closer to the shopping centre as well.

Just on this region....there is now regular confusion at skygate for 590 passengers (mainly from southside residents) as they are regularly waiting at the wrong stops....something I will be chasing up next year....along with the ridiculous `no avm` at indro bus station issue..

And on the note of the 310 - it now takes longer to get from Sandgate Road (via bus) to Queen Street stop 60 using the 310 compared to the 315. In short, not only has BCC decreased the frequency of buses along inner Sandgate Road at express stops, it has also made the trip longer (overall) for pax using the 310.

And RBWH connection - its nice, not very useful though. It is not that difficult to connect to RBWH in the City/via 369/GCL/rail, and does not take terribly long either. Going Toombul SC - Gabba you only save one minute using 310 + 340 vs. train + MGLD (and a small amount of walking).

Agree with regards to the Skygate stops - they need to make it blatantly obvious. Even I got confused when I was last at the DFO.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I've seen the 310 running and I've always had a really good laugh at its patronage. I can say the same for many if not all of Brisbanes northside routes.

[Gazza]

I remember doubting the 369 route within days of its implementation as it was just a slight rework of the hourly 358....I think I will add that to my highlights of 2013...its cutback of frequency...

Instead of cutting back the 369, wouldn't it have made more sense to cut back the 375 instead?

[#Metro]

Instead of cutting back the 369, wouldn't it have made more sense to cut back the 375 instead?

It is not doing too badly at the moment. It was a puzzle to me when I rode the 369 and calculated estimated patronage from scratch (density) which indicated that it should be very well patronised --- until I rode a 375 and this bus vaccumed up all the pax just a few minutes before the 369 arrival!

The location of the Stafford City bus terminus also plays a role - it is embedded deeply within carparks whereas the 369 is out on the fast road. You have to choose one or the other.