Announcement .. 'don't get angry, get even' fare campaign ..

[James]

Campaigners say fares income will exceed operating costs by 2018, and call for increases to be calculated in line with CPI

Except our fares are approx. 25% operating costs.

And we do not have an incompetent bus operator which runs an overly complex network, refuses to allow its network to be reformed and allows waste to pile up to excessive levels, resulting in a high-waste bus network which leaves entire parts of Brisbane without decent daytime services and no bus services at all at night in some places.

[BrizCommuter]

Campaigners say fares income will exceed operating costs by 2018, and call for increases to be calculated in line with CPI

Except our fares are approx. 25% operating costs.

And we do not have an incompetent bus operator which runs an overly complex network, refuses to allow its network to be reformed and allows waste to pile up to excessive levels, resulting in a high-waste bus network which leaves entire parts of Brisbane without decent daytime services and no bus services at all at night in some places.

Precisely.

BrizCommuter has published a slide showing all that is wrong with TransLink's 2014 fares for SE Queensland and Brisbane. Feel free to pass it on.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/translinks-2014-fares-awful-facts.html

[#Metro]

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jan/02/government-profit-rail-fares?CMP=twt_fd

At least we aren't alone, although we're still getting whacked with very high fare increases.

The Guardian has long had a problem with 'profit' or commerce. If it is that close to breaking even, fares should not be set according to CPI, but according to what people are willing to pay given the alternatives (long distance buses, other rail operators and flights). That's how prices are set for virtually everything else.

[ozbob]

4BC Newstalk 1116

Public transport fee increase

Posted by: Staff Writers | Staff Writers 2 January, 2014 - 11:33 AM
Public transport

4BC Mornings: Do you use a bus, train or ferry to travel between home and work? From Monday 6 January 2014, Translink plan to raise the cost of Brisbane's public transport.

Robert Dow, Spokesperson for Rail Back On Track, joins Chris Adams to discuss the changes.

Click --> here

[#Metro]

STOP PRESS!!

Caught a bus earlier today. CAMP HILL NEWSAGENTS is running a petition to become a go card reseller. What's happening here?

[ozbob]

^ under the present paradigm it costs a motza to establish a top up facility ..

Same story at Oxley News, and many others ..

Hopefully it will move towards a system like mobile phones, buy a voucher, ring up, click click - job done ..

But hey, we are Queensland ..

[techblitz]

Add the other newsagency at inala...spoke to owner recently....he was rejected by translink..even though he is asked a lot for topup requests..

[ozbob]

Channel 9 News

Critics warning over public transport fare rise

--> http://ninem.sn/gevKzQd

[newbris]

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jan/02/government-profit-rail-fares?CMP=twt_fd

At least we aren't alone, although we're still getting whacked with very high fare increases.

The Guardian has long had a problem with 'profit' or commerce. If it is that close to breaking even, fares should not be set according to CPI, but according to what people are willing to pay given the alternatives (long distance buses, other rail operators and flights). That's how prices are set for virtually everything else.

The articles example is just the mainline into London from places like Basingstoke isn't it ? 80km or so ? Wouldn't be much PT alternative really...so expensive...people in London being charged roughly the salary equivalent of AUD$10,000/year to travel a similar distance as Robina to Brisbane. For comparison Robina to Central is about AUD$6,000/year I think (assuming no lunch time 1 zoner trips).

Interesting:
"Action for Rail, a trade union-backed campaign, said workers on an average UK salary would spend nearly 14% of their wages on a monthly season ticket commute from St Albans to London, whereas a commuter making comparable journeys in Germany and France would spend about 4%. The figures in Spain and Italy were 3% and 1% respectively, said the group."

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 3rd January 2014 page 9

Transport rises just not 'fare'

[#Metro]

The articles example is just the mainline into London from places like Basingstoke isn't it ? 80km or so ? Wouldn't be much PT alternative really...so expensive...people in London being charged roughly the salary equivalent of AUD$10,000/year to travel a similar distance as Robina to Brisbane. For comparison Robina to Central is about AUD$6,000/year I think (assuming no lunch time 1 zoner trips).

The price to travel between Robina and Central may well be $6000/year, but the true cost is closer to $24 000 per year when subsidies are taken into account. (Yes the road has subsidy too, but that's another story). If we are to accept that public transport is in competition with the car (for example a car to tube park and ride then tube to CBD) then in an ordinary circumstance, price would be set at a level that (a) covered all costs and (b) was competitive with any alternatives. London is an expensive city, those people must have a good reason to travel so far (high paying job) otherwise the trip would not be economical to make.

EVERYTHING in London is expensive. It's London.

[newbris]

The articles example is just the mainline into London from places like Basingstoke isn't it ? 80km or so ? Wouldn't be much PT alternative really...so expensive...people in London being charged roughly the salary equivalent of AUD$10,000/year to travel a similar distance as Robina to Brisbane. For comparison Robina to Central is about AUD$6,000/year I think (assuming no lunch time 1 zoner trips).

The price to travel between Robina and Central may well be $6000/year, but the true cost is closer to $24 000 per year when subsidies are taken into account. (Yes the road has subsidy too, but that's another story). If we are to accept that public transport is in competition with the car (for example a car to tube park and ride then tube to CBD) then in an ordinary circumstance, price would be set at a level that (a) covered all costs and (b) was competitive with any alternatives. London is an expensive city, those people must have a good reason to travel so far (high paying job) otherwise the trip would not be economical to make.

EVERYTHING in London is expensive. It's London.

Won't help the good people out at Basingstoke but good to see this is encouraging more affordable alternatives to be considered whether viable or not: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/jan/02/norman-foster-skycycle-elevated-bike-routes-london

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

FARE-mageddon tomorrow in SEQ. Be smart, drop paper single tickets, get a go card ... help here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5149.0 ... #qldpol

[ozbob]

Doing the go card rort!

--> http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/doing-go-card-rort.html

[ozbob]

Seniors go card - the two card trick, go! 

Example:

Method:

The two card trick, Seniors go card, free travel after two paid journeys.

Touch on at Goodna rail with primary go card.  Touch off at Darra (there is enough timetable fat to do it easily).

Touch on with secondary concession go card.  Travel to Milton, detrain touch off with secondary go card.

Touch back on with primary go card.  Next service to Roma St.  Touch off.  Two paid journeys now completed on primary go card.

Wait an hour before touching back on, time for a pleasant breakfast.

Rest of the day travel is free ...  WTG!      

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

Go card history for above two card trick  ..

24 Jan 2014
04:38 AM    Goodna    05:12 AM    Darra    $ 2.07    
05:33 AM    Milton    06:06 AM    Roma Street    $ 1.77    
07:20 AM    Roma Street    08:39 AM    Helensvale    $0.00    
08:49 AM    Helensvale station stop B    09:07 AM    GCUH platform 4    $0.00    
02:22 PM    Victoria Ave at Broadbeach Mall    03:01 PM    Robina station stop B    $0.00    
03:02 PM    Robina    05:02 PM    Goodna    $0.00    
05:32 PM    Goodna Station Stop A    05:43 PM    Curnow St near Howard St    $0.00     

Way to GO!  Macro buddies ..

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Seniors go card (concession) but any go card you can do return journey for free provided within one hour limit at destination ..

eg.

14 Mar 2014
08:41 AM    Goodna    09:38 AM    Roma Street    $ 2.52    
09:46 AM    Roma Street    10:39 AM    Loganlea    $ 0.30    
11:13 AM    Loganlea    12:35 PM    Goodna    $0.00    

[ozbob]

Have found a question on notice that gives the weekly free trips.

See --> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2014/355-2014.pdf

I have converted the data to spreadsheets

Simple plot  week 1 to week 97.

Does seem the ' Don't get angry, get even ' campaign is having an effect    Time will tell ...



ODS (Open Office) --> here!

Excel --> here!

The real story would be told if the data was broken down to days of the week.

My guess is the bulk would be clearly on Thursdays and Fridays, which would confirm the hocus pocus of the free after 9 scheme.

[ozbob]

" ... Foregone revenue associated is not able to be calculated given many of these trips
would not have been taken without this beneficial policy ... "

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2014/355-2014.pdf

Umm, unless you provide a daily break up that claim is baseless.  No doubt most of just cashed up commuters doing their normal Thursday and Friday journeys for free ...

" The nine and free policy is budgeted to cost $38 million over four years. "  Mr Emerson Statement 10 June 2014 http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7374.msg142947#msg142947

If they cannot calculate foregone revenue then how can they calculate a budgeted cost?

IT IS BULL!!   Oh dear ... what a shambles ... just fix it!

[STB]

As soon as I saw that data I straight away thought that was the number of normal 9 to 5vers who reach their 9 trip journey by the end of the week (with perhaps say 10-15% of them being students).  So basically they would've had to do that trip regardless.  To me, all that has happened is that they have moved the goal posts to make the Government look good by forcing a free trip at the end of the week that people have to do no matter what.

[ozbob]

My estimates are that the free after 9 is costing around $50 million per year*.  This would make a huge difference to the public transport budget if the fare system was fixed up, not only would that go but more people could afford to travel.

*70,000 per week x $7 subsidy +$2 lost fare = $630,000/ week say $50 million per year in direct costs.  Costs flow on to congestion, health care sector, environmental as well in an indirect way as well.

Maybe it is time for an inquiry into the ramshackle public transport governance for south-east Queensland?

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

WTG! #qldpol don't get angry, get even > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10444.msg136884#msg136884 ...
http://twitpic.com/e5yf58

[ozbob]

" ... Foregone revenue associated is not able to be calculated given many of these trips
would not have been taken without this beneficial policy ... "

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2014/355-2014.pdf

Umm, unless you provide a daily break up that claim is baseless.  No doubt most of just cashed up commuters doing their normal Thursday and Friday journeys for free ...

" The nine and free policy is budgeted to cost $38 million over four years. "  Mr Emerson Statement 10 June 2014 http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7374.msg142947#msg142947

If they cannot calculate foregone revenue then how can they calculate a budgeted cost?

IT IS BULL!!   Oh dear ... what a shambles ... just fix it!

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Bob's Blog: The fare fail - a blast from the past --> http://railbotforum.org/bb/index.php  #qldpol #auspol #springst #nswpol #sapol #wapol #farefailSEQ

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Friday is becoming free day on Go Cards

About one in seven Go Card trips today on a bus, train or a ferry in Southeast Queensland is free, according to the latest breakdown of Translink statistics.

The number of free Go Card trips per week is closing on 100,000 according to information revealed last week following a Question on Notice lodged in May.

Commuters are allowed free travel on SEQ's public transport if they have already used nine trips on their Go Card.

For three individual weeks in March 2014 the number of free Go Card trips were; 96,455, 95,073 and 94,960.

However the average number of free trips taken on Go Cards increased by 2840 in 18 months; from 72,712 in March 2012 to 75,552 in October 2013.

Most of the free trips are taken on Friday's (12.7 per cent), Saturdays (increased to 14.4 per cent) and Sundays (up to 16.1 per cent of all journeys).

However the Translink data also shows an increase in free trips on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Wednesday's free trips on Go Cards increased from 0.5 per cent of the 452,930 journeys in 2012, to 0.6 per cent of the 469,244 total Go card journeys.

Thursday's free trips have increased from 2.3 per cent of the total 452,930 journeys in 2012, to 2.5 per cent of the 469,244 total journeys in 2013.

The actual figures for mid-week free trips could not be provided by Translink because the day-by-day accumulation of weekly trips varies, Transport Minister Scott Emerson's spokeswoman said.

This week Mr Emerson said an extra $38 million over four years would cover the extra free trips.

The weekly breakdown shows free Go Card trips soar in March – over 94,000 per week – and predictably sink over school holidays and in the week before Christmas.

Over Christmas–New Year 2012 the number of free trips taken dropped to 19,122, while over Christmas-New Year in 2013 free trips dropped to 20,687.

In 2014 Go Card passengers paid 73 per cent of all fares and took 83 per cent of all trips, while passengers using paper tickets paid 27 per cent of fares and made 17 per cent of trips.

That is because Go Card fares are only two-thirds the price of paper tickets to encourage people to use Go Cards, Mr Emerson's spokeswoman said.

In 2012-13 slightly less - $259.8 million or 72 per cent - of total fares of $361 million were collected by Go Cards.

And just over 28 per cent of fare revenue – or $101.2 million - was collected by the paper tickets.

Peak time fares raked in $261 million with adult Go Cards contributing $212.4 million and concession travellers $70.2 million.  Those on seniors cards kicked in $9 million, while children accounted for $9.1 million.  Paper tickets during peak travel times brought in $60.1 million.

Off-peak travel told its own story. Adult Go Card users contributed $54.8 million, with paper ticket travellers spending $41.1 million over the same period.  Concession Go Card travellers spent $37.2 million, seniors $6.1 million and children a little less at $5.8 million.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/friday-is-becoming-free-day-on-go-cards-20140613-zs7jl.html

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th June 2014

Go card data confirms the fare failure in south-east Queensland

Greetings,

Thanks to Brisbanetimes and Mr Tony Moore. Finally some meaningful data on go card usage and the fare fail in south east Queensland generally.

As suspected the article (below) confirms that paper ticket users are carrying a disproportionate inequitable share of the fare box.

" ... Go Card passengers paid 73 per cent of all fares and took 83 per cent of all trips, while passengers using paper tickets paid 27 per cent of fares and made 17 per cent of trips .. "

It is also confirms that the RAIL Back On Track campaign 'don't get angry, get even' fare campaign .. ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10444.0 ) is starting to have an effect.

Go card 'rorting' is increasing.  That is, people taking lunch time trips etc. to offset longer high cost journeys.

Is this equitable?  Cashed up ' suits ' ripping off the system whilst paper ticket users are belted with obscenely priced limited use paper single tickets?

A fare path that has increased the public subsidy, made fares reach the worst unaffordability levels ever and stagnated patronage growth is a failure. What sort of crazy fare structure is this?

It is time to roll out an immediate fix to the failed fare system.  A new generation ticketing system is on the horizon for 2016.  As part of this new ticketing system full and proper public consultation should be undertaken to come up with fare options that are affordable, equitable for all and drive public transport use around the clock.  By doing this roads become less congested, there are reduced costs to our struggling health care sector.  Environmental impacts are lessened. Our huge investment in our public transport asset is used for the maximum benefit for all.

A suggested immediate fix.  The present go card system has limitations, these suggestions are made with a view to what can be implemented on the present go system. For the next generation ticketing system options such as daily capping and open payment systems need to be properly considered.

Meanwhile do this:

1. Reset base fares on go card.  Zone one fare $2.50, with 40 cent increments to zone 10, then 80 cent increments to zone 23.

2. Increase off peak discount to 30%.

3. Remove the free travel after 9 paid journeys in a week. This is nothing but a rort and is a cause of significant fare box leakage.  Replace with 50% fares after 9 paid journeys in a week.  This will greatly reduce the rorting, and in any case still return a fare box.

4. Allow children to travel free on weekends and public holidays with a fare paying adult.

5. Concession card holders fares remain 50% of adult fares. Concession fares be extended to the unemployed, as is the case in every other state and territory of Australia.

6. Remove paper tickets.

The cost of the free after nine  is costing around $50 million per year* in my opinion.  This would make a huge difference to the public transport budget if the fare system was fixed up, not only would that go but more people could afford to travel.

*70,000 per week x $7 subsidy +$2 lost fare = $630,000/ week say $50 million per year in direct costs.  Costs flow on to congestion, health care sector, environmental as well in an indirect way as well.

The Government has budgeted $38 million for the next four years for the free after nine, what nonsense.

Consider this:

" ... Foregone revenue associated is not able to be calculated given many of these trips
would not have been taken without this beneficial policy ... "

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2014/355-2014.pdf

Unless you provide a daily break up that claim is baseless.  No doubt most of just cashed up commuters doing their normal Thursday and Friday journeys for free ...

" The nine and free policy is budgeted to cost $38 million over four years. "  Mr Emerson Statement 10 June 2014 ( http://fionasimpson.com.au/News/StateNews/tabid/70/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1332/Policy-delivers-seven-million-free-trips.aspx  Queensland Parliament web site presently having issues .. )

If they cannot calculate foregone revenue then how can they calculate a budgeted cost?  It is a nonsense. Classic double think, George Orwell would be proud!

The evidence is clear.  The fare system for south-east Queensland is a failure and it is anti-public transport.

The Premier indicated in the Six month action plan in January 2013 that a new fare structure for south-east Queensland would be delivered.  Where is it?

Best wishes
Robert

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

Brisbanetimes --> Friday is becoming free day on Go Cards

About one in seven Go Card trips today on a bus, train or a ferry in Southeast Queensland is free, according to the latest breakdown of Translink statistics.

The number of free Go Card trips per week is closing on 100,000 according to information revealed last week following a Question on Notice lodged in May.

Commuters are allowed free travel on SEQ's public transport if they have already used nine trips on their Go Card.

For three individual weeks in March 2014 the number of free Go Card trips were; 96,455, 95,073 and 94,960.

However the average number of free trips taken on Go Cards increased by 2840 in 18 months; from 72,712 in March 2012 to 75,552 in October 2013.

Most of the free trips are taken on Friday's (12.7 per cent), Saturdays (increased to 14.4 per cent) and Sundays (up to 16.1 per cent of all journeys).

However the Translink data also shows an increase in free trips on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Wednesday's free trips on Go Cards increased from 0.5 per cent of the 452,930 journeys in 2012, to 0.6 per cent of the 469,244 total Go card journeys.

Thursday's free trips have increased from 2.3 per cent of the total 452,930 journeys in 2012, to 2.5 per cent of the 469,244 total journeys in 2013.

The actual figures for mid-week free trips could not be provided by Translink because the day-by-day accumulation of weekly trips varies, Transport Minister Scott Emerson's spokeswoman said.

This week Mr Emerson said an extra $38 million over four years would cover the extra free trips.

The weekly breakdown shows free Go Card trips soar in March – over 94,000 per week – and predictably sink over school holidays and in the week before Christmas.

Over Christmas–New Year 2012 the number of free trips taken dropped to 19,122, while over Christmas-New Year in 2013 free trips dropped to 20,687.

In 2014 Go Card passengers paid 73 per cent of all fares and took 83 per cent of all trips, while passengers using paper tickets paid 27 per cent of fares and made 17 per cent of trips.

That is because Go Card fares are only two-thirds the price of paper tickets to encourage people to use Go Cards, Mr Emerson's spokeswoman said.

In 2012-13 slightly less - $259.8 million or 72 per cent - of total fares of $361 million were collected by Go Cards.

And just over 28 per cent of fare revenue – or $101.2 million - was collected by the paper tickets.

Peak time fares raked in $261 million with adult Go Cards contributing $212.4 million and concession travellers $70.2 million.  Those on seniors cards kicked in $9 million, while children accounted for $9.1 million.  Paper tickets during peak travel times brought in $60.1 million.

Off-peak travel told its own story. Adult Go Card users contributed $54.8 million, with paper ticket travellers spending $41.1 million over the same period.  Concession Go Card travellers spent $37.2 million, seniors $6.1 million and children a little less at $5.8 million.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/friday-is-becoming-free-day-on-go-cards-20140613-zs7jl.html

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  6h

This is what a sensible fare system looks like > https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Tickets/Fares  #qldpol #sapol // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Twitter

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  6h

This is what a sensible fare system looks like > http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/tickets-fares/fares ... #qldpol #wapol // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  5h

This is what a sensible fare system looks like - Cairns >http://www.sunbus.com.au/documents/2014Fares_Cairns.pdf ... #qldpol #fnq // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  5h

This is what a sensible fare system looks like - Tasmania > http://www.metrotas.com.au/ticketsfares  #qldpol #taspol // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  5h

This is what a sensible fare system looks like - Canberra myway > http://www.transport.act.gov.au/catch_a_bus/myway/fares ... #qldpol #actpol // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  2h

This is what an affordable fare system looks like Melb myki > http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/metropolitan-myki-fares/ ... #qldpol #springst // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  2h

This is what an affordable fare system looks like Sydney Opal > https://www.opal.com.au/en/fare-information/ ... #qldpol #nswpol // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

==========

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow  ·  2h

This is what an unaffordable & botched fare system looks like - SEQ > http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/current-fares ... #qldpol // @scottemersonmp @SteveMinnikinMP

[ozbob]

Media release 16 June 2014

SEQ: Flawed cost estimates for the nine and free go card rort?

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 said recent data has confirmed the fare box leakage is contributing to high cost fares in south-east Queensland on the TransLink network (1). Further more, Government budgeting estimates for this leakage are flawed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In a recent response to a Question On Notice, the Transport Minister Mr Emerson has said

' ... Foregone revenue associated is not able to be calculated given many of these trips
would not have been taken without this beneficial policy ...' (2)."

"However in a statement dated 10th June 2014 Mr Emerson has said ' The nine and free policy is budgeted to cost $38 million over four years. ' (3)."

Our estimates of the real cost of the nine and free are:

Average 70,000 free trips per week x $7 subsidy +$2 lost fare = $630,000/ week say $50 million per year in direct costs.

"If the authorities cannot calculate foregone revenue then how can they calculate a budgeted cost?"

"The so called ' budgeting ' for the nine and free is apparently based on an assumption of lost fare revenue only. This is nonsense.  The government is saying that the typical ninth journey for a typical commuter on a Friday morning costs $7 public subsidy, the commuter pays an average fare of $2, an overall cost of $9. But they then suggest the journey home on a Friday only costs foregone fare revenue of $2?  Nonsense!"

"This fare box leakage compounds the fare system crisis in south-east Queensland."

"It is time to fix the fares!"

References:

1. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/friday-is-becoming-free-day-on-go-cards-20140613-zs7jl.html

2. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2014/355-2014.pdf

3. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/6/10/policy-delivers-seven-million-free-trips

4. Go card data confirms the fare failure in south-east Queensland http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10748.msg143062#msg143062

Contact:

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

[aldonius]

There's a weasel wording possible, in which the subsidy is calculated on "paid trips", not all trips, and is thereby already accounted for.

Personally, I think the maths in this MR is sufficiently imprecise that $50M is close enough to the stated $38M.

[ozbob]

The $38 million from Government is for four years in total.  Not one year. It is a gross underestimate ..

But then again they suggest they can't calculate it .. LOL 

The other issue is as free trips escalate the bias is to longer journeys hence higher foregone cost.  This would make it even worse, but that sort of data is hidden of course.

The answer to all of this is to implement a proper fare system. 

[ozbob]

Twitter

Aussie all the way ‏@PommyRick 2m

@TransLinkSEQ @Robert_Dow The 375 was busy , well for 1 stop , around 12 people got on at stop 37 Adelaide st , then got off at stop 42

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

LOL  don't get angry, get even ...

[James]

Twitter

Aussie all the way ‏@PommyRick 2m

@TransLinkSEQ @Robert_Dow The 375 was busy , well for 1 stop , around 12 people got on at stop 37 Adelaide st , then got off at stop 42

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

LOL  don't get angry, get even ...

I saw this happen on a Route 300 service on a Monday around a similar time too. Wondered why everybody was going to Hamilton/Toombul... then realised they were doing the rort when they all got off later.

[red dragin]

Maybe this is why Brisbane Transport thinks all these bus routes are needed - just look at the patronage they are getting (for one stop at least).

Perhaps a "get even day" to protest the fares. Organise a rally for heaps of people to flood one normally under utilised route. 40 people waiting at each stop, to hop off at the next stop where the next 40 get on. 

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

http://twitpic.com/dj4rlb  - Fare policy in south-east Qld. Affordability at crisis point, rorting rife, fare evasion out of control #qldpol

[James]

Maybe this is why Brisbane Transport thinks all these bus routes are needed - just look at the patronage they are getting (for one stop at least).

Perhaps a "get even day" to protest the fares. Organise a rally for heaps of people to flood one normally under utilised route. 40 people waiting at each stop, to hop off at the next stop where the next 40 get on. 

The way you do it is you flood a totally wasteful and duplicative bus route (like the 105, MGLD, 417, 346, 203 etc.) to the point where it cannot accept any more passengers (i.e. 'Sorry Bus Full'), then disembark one stop later.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Monday!! Go on the go! > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10444.msg136884#msg136884 ... #qldpol http://twitpic.com/e6o5mr

[ozbob]

Adelaide is consistently beating Brisbane in tourism polls liveability etc.  Kind of amazing for some, but not me.

One simple thing.

Metro Adelaide Visitors Pass $25 for three days unlimited PT ... > http://adelaidemetro.com.au/Visitor-Pass-Campaign/Home

Best available in SEQ. 

Lets say our intrepid tourist takes the very unlikely path to a nine journey one zone off peak rort.

9 x $2.83 = $25.47  ..  take more than a few hours to get there ... can then travel ' free ' for the remainder of the week ... value really depends on the day of the week they make the rort move.

SEQ

SEEQ Adult 3-Day Pass >  http://shop.translink.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/shop/Categories/SEEQ

3 consecutive calendar days travel on any TransLink bus, train, or ferry service for customers aged 15 years of age and over.  Includes up to 2 Airtrain trips.

Must complete use within 12 months of purchase date.

AU$79.00

Has some good discounts but what if you don't want that?

Go the rort!!

[techblitz]

adelaide have been pulling out all stops to get people onto PT and ditch thier cars...especially inner city commuters.
They have a big problem with getting residents to ditch reliance of vehicles as they have vastly more avaiable car parks (up to 300% cheaper than other cities)

This is very high by Australian standards. ABS stats show that 49 per cent of us (adelaide) travel to work by car – this compared to 40 per cent in Melbourne, 38 per cent in Brisbane and 18 per cent in Sydney. Even car-loving Perth has a rate of 45 per cent, significantly lower than Adelaide.

Sydney? Doing pretty well there?

Adeaide should be providing the best value PT in the country due to thier rather 'unique' situation.Brisbane definitely needs to improve....thats for sure.

[ozbob]

Adelaide's 28 day Metro card pass is also very good for the regular PT user --> https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/28-Day-Pass/Fare-Comparisons

[kazzac]

I found  Canberra fares to be good value when I was down there last year visiting relations,was able to travel a long way for $8 a day,Adelaide sounds like great value too for PT, like the idea of a visitors 3 day pass.Melbourne and Perth  PT I've used too,all better than us in SEQ.