Brisbane transport bus patronage 2013/14

[ozbob]

7 News have confirmed that Brisbane bus patronage for 2013/14 fell short by ~ 3.8% (~3.2 million from 81 million target)

> https://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/video/watch/25305043/brisbane-s-most-dangerous-bus-routes-revealed/

[SurfRail]

Only a few years they thought the State would pay for them to have a fleet of 1,600 buses carrying 120 million people per year.  How the mighty have fallen.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Surprised the 314 wasn't listed as the most violent after passengers had to wait 72 hours for the next service

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Fewer commuters using Brisbane buses than previous year

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> BCC says it is the 'best friend' of public transport users

[STB]

[#Metro]

Like it, look somewhat similar to Quirk and Campbell actually 

[STB]

Like it, look somewhat similar to Quirk and Campbell actually 

I'm glad you noticed. 

[James]

Brisbanetimes --> BCC says it is the 'best friend' of public transport users

The "best friend of public transport users"?

My best friend does not leave me sitting out in the driving rain for an hour waiting for the 411!
My best friend does not leave the station 3 minutes before my train is scheduled to arrive!
My best friend does not randomly cancel for "operational reasons"!
My best friend does not consistently run late actually he does, nevermind.

And of course, the "best friend of public transport users" always designs timetables which are meant to be your best friend.



With a bus going every 2 hours, cling to that bus timetable for dear life, or else you never know, you might get to your stop and find that your next bus doesn't come until tomorrow morning!

[HappyTrainGuy]

And I don't know if I'm just dreaming. Don't know if I feel sane.


But it's something that I must believe in and it's there when you call out my name.


You know the words. Sing it now! Love is in the air!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd October 2014

Passengers flee BCC Bus Cost Explosion- Are Jobs Under Threat?

Greetings.

Very concerning the latest news re: bus patronage diving. We suggested that this would happen. A pity sound advice is ignored. Are driver redundancies going to follow?

In our opinion, the greatest threat to bus driver's jobs is BCC itself. Failure to implement proper bus reform means that patronage is now diving, and as we all know, empty buses don't need drivers.

Patronage fall is actually worse than it appears as a significant number of trips are just the result of people rorting the failed go card fare structure and taking unnecessary trips to reach the 9 and free threshold early in the week!

Why did the previous and current State Governments increase fares so much? Perhaps it have something to do with BCC's increasing supply costs, a result of not reforming the bus network.

Bus reform needs to be undertaken. Across 'the ditch', Auckland City Council in New Zealand is moving forward with bus reform. Brisbane??

RAIL Back on Track calls for all parties to affirm bipartisan support for bus contracting and wholesale bus reform. BCC had its chance to show that it could do a better job than TransLink at bus reform and it comprehensively and spectacularly failed.

Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low cost public transport for all.

Facts not spin please?

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

Fewer commuters using Brisbane buses than previous year http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/fewer-commuters-using-brisbane-buses-than-previous-year/story-fni9r0hy-1227097897268

Bus Reform: Auckland City Council versus Brisbane City Council http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11016.msg147804#msg147804

Brisbane's most dangerous bus routes revealed https://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/video/watch/25305043/brisbane-s-most-dangerous-bus-routes-revealed/

Media release 22nd October 2014

Bus Reform: Auckland City Council versus Brisbane City Council

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 highlights a unique natural experiment comparing bus reform in Auckland to Brisbane.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In a unique natural experiment, we can have a taste of what could have been had Brisbane City Council not stymied bus reform. Brisbane's sister city, Auckland, is progressing well with its own bus reform revolution and the New Zealand version of our BaT/Cross River Rail tunnel."

"Auckland City Council recently announced consultation for major bus reform in West Auckland. What a contrast it is to Brisbane. A Brisbane firm with its office on Coronation Drive was hired by Auckland City Council to reform Auckland's bus network along the same lines as the TransLink bus review did. Here is a excerpt from Auckland Transport's website:



"What was the Lord Mayor and BCC's position on bus reforms?*:

'We do not, on this side, endorse the changes that are proposed and we never will.'

'There are many students of public transport, many operators of transport systems who very much support intermodal and, indeed, transfers between the same mode as part of public transport journeys. I don't.'

"The Lord Mayor says he is against connections. Is the Lord Mayor also against traffic lights, roundabouts or intersections connecting roads together? In the same way road intersections and traffic lights or roundabouts might cause motorists a brief wait, but are essential for connecting roads together to form a network, smart use of connections are essential for public transport. We know there is demand for buses to train stations because train station car parks and surrounding local streets are overflowing with cars."

"Worldwide, cities are reforming their bus networks. In the last five years a major shift in thinking has swept cities worldwide on how to run public transport. Perth runs buses to specially designed bus-rail interchanges. The Gold Coast runs buses to Light Rail with passenger connections and it has been a success. Brisbane is being left behind, clinging to yesterdays failing paradigm and falling bus patronage."

"In our opinion, TransLink should be very mindful when choosing contractor(s) for the bus network. A cheap but anti-bus reform contractor might ultimately cost the State Government significantly more money over the life of the contract if it is uncooperative and locks the bus network into a costly, redundant 'legacy mode' that is too infrequent for most purposes, thus causing fares to explode or bus driver redundancies from failing to attract patronage from car users. Patronage on the bus network is falling, bus reform is needed to reverse it."

"Fare cuts have been achieved only by 'loosening the belt', but further increasing the subsidy with no improvement to bus service quality. This is just charging us more through the back door for the same old services."

"Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low cost public transport for all."

Contact:

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

References:

Auckland Transport, Auckland City Council, New public transport network (image) https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/new-public-transport-network/

* Brisbane City Council Meeting Minutes The 4395 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 12 February 2013 at 2pm

* Brisbane City Council Meeting Minutes The 4399 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 12 March 2013 at 2pm

West Auckland new network consultation http://transportblog.co.nz/2014/10/21/west-auckland-new-network-consultation/

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Wheels on the bus too slow and costly for Brisbane commuters

Wheels on the bus too slow and costly for Brisbane commuters

Updated 8 minutes agoThu 23 Oct 2014, 11:55am

A Brisbane City Council report shows that residents are choosing to miss the bus due to high fares and timetable changes.

Cost, unreliable timing and a lack of night services have all been listed as factors forcing residents to avoid hailing a bus.

The Opposition Leader of the Brisbane City Council (BCC), Milton Dick, told 612 ABC Brisbane's Rebecca Levingston that council missed the bus patronage target by 3 million passengers.

"The quarterly report that comes through to council told us that for the 2013-2014 ... we are 3 million passengers less than where we should be," he said.

"It has been a big issue for a number of commuters over the last 12 months due to the council cutting $20 million in public transport services."

Cr Dick said council needed to listen and act upon customer complaints.

"We are getting a number of complaints about buses not turning up on time and since we have cut buses late at night, it is a worry for students, shift workers and young women," he said.

"It is an issue of cost too. It is time that we take a good look at transport services rather than this slash and burn approach."

Cr Dick believed the State Government and council needed to work harder to provide the services needed.

"This is what happens when 'new world cities' do not invest in public transport," he said.

[#Metro]

"It is an issue of cost too. It is time that we take a good look at transport services rather than this slash and burn approach."

Cr Dick believed the State Government and council needed to work harder to provide the services needed.

Milton Dick is calling for... a bus review, we only had TWO already, still haven't fixed the problems.... and guess who was out with the Anti-bus review cheerleading squad? Oh that would be...

Politicians make me sick!!

[brissypete]

Translink just need to tell BT where to go (literally and figuratively).

[HappyTrainGuy]

BCC. BT was told by the BCC not to attend meetings with Translink regarding the first bus review  :conf

[ozbob]

Translink just need to tell BT where to go (literally and figuratively).

Brisbane Transport (BT) is not the fundamental issue, it is BCC as HTG points out ..

Personally, I think BT  crew, drivers, support staff do a great job as able, despite the incompetent and self-serving meddling of the Council.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

24th October 2014

Bus Reform Sweeps Auckland, Falling Patronage Sweeps Brisbane

Greetings.

The petty claims of 'cuts cuts cuts', scares and BCC councillors going on revolt look all a little bit silly now hey? Auckland City Council in NZ is shaping up to be an embarrassing comparison for Brisbane City Council; Brisbane is Auckland's sister city and is making bus reform look like a walk in the park. The New Zealanders are using a Brisbane firm to completely reorganise the bus network from the ground up. While the Brisbane Lord Mayor protests connections, his NZ counterpart in Auckland City Council is getting on with the job of bus network reform, introducing connections and sending buses to train stations.

Video: How you'll need to change your travel in West Auckland

Has the penny dropped at BCC yet? Or does patronage have to fall a few million more?

Where are BCC's improved bus services to Yeronga, Bulimba, the entire Centenary Suburbs and Albany Creek? Under the 2013 TransLink review these areas would have had high quality frequent bus services by now.
Bus patronage would be 20 million more annually, not falling.  Roads less congested. Bus drivers being recruited no doubt.  Sadly, failing network design and high cost fares see the system in a downward spiral.

Auckland Transport is engaged in local public consultation, a good effort to communicate the changes and build public understanding and support. What is Brisbane doing? Spin, sugar fixes and fare gimmicks, blame games between different levels and previous governments while sky high fares and the same old services destroy patronage and threaten bus driver's jobs.

All academic really, a very sorry outcome and predicted by us and others (see article below  Courier Mail 11 April 2012)

Don't miss the bus like Brisbane!

Best wishes
Robert

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


ARTICLE: City's public transport will never improve while run by opposing sides Couriermail 11th April 2012 pages 18-19






The New Bus Network: a step change for Auckland
http://transportblog.co.nz/2012/09/19/the-new-bus-network-a-step-change-for-auckland/

Sent to all outlets:

23rd October 2014

Passengers flee BCC Bus Cost Explosion- Are Jobs Under Threat?

Greetings.

Very concerning the latest news re: bus patronage diving. We suggested that this would happen. A pity sound advice is ignored. Are driver redundancies going to follow?

In our opinion, the greatest threat to bus driver's jobs is BCC itself. Failure to implement proper bus reform means that patronage is now diving, and as we all know, empty buses don't need drivers.

Patronage fall is actually worse than it appears as a significant number of trips are just the result of people rorting the failed go card fare structure and taking unnecessary trips to reach the 9 and free threshold early in the week!

Why did the previous and current State Governments increase fares so much? Perhaps it have something to do with BCC's increasing supply costs, a result of not reforming the bus network.

Bus reform needs to be undertaken. Across 'the ditch', Auckland City Council in New Zealand is moving forward with bus reform. Brisbane??

RAIL Back on Track calls for all parties to affirm bipartisan support for bus contracting and wholesale bus reform. BCC had its chance to show that it could do a better job than TransLink at bus reform and it comprehensively and spectacularly failed.

Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low cost public transport for all.

Facts not spin please?

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

Fewer commuters using Brisbane buses than previous year http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/fewer-commuters-using-brisbane-buses-than-previous-year/story-fni9r0hy-1227097897268

Bus Reform: Auckland City Council versus Brisbane City Council http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11016.msg147804#msg147804

Brisbane's most dangerous bus routes revealed https://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/video/watch/25305043/brisbane-s-most-dangerous-bus-routes-revealed/

Media release 22nd October 2014

Bus Reform: Auckland City Council versus Brisbane City Council

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 highlights a unique natural experiment comparing bus reform in Auckland to Brisbane.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In a unique natural experiment, we can have a taste of what could have been had Brisbane City Council not stymied bus reform. Brisbane's sister city, Auckland, is progressing well with its own bus reform revolution and the New Zealand version of our BaT/Cross River Rail tunnel."

"Auckland City Council recently announced consultation for major bus reform in West Auckland. What a contrast it is to Brisbane. A Brisbane firm with its office on Coronation Drive was hired by Auckland City Council to reform Auckland's bus network along the same lines as the TransLink bus review did. Here is a excerpt from Auckland Transport's website:



"What was the Lord Mayor and BCC's position on bus reforms?*:

'We do not, on this side, endorse the changes that are proposed and we never will.'

'There are many students of public transport, many operators of transport systems who very much support intermodal and, indeed, transfers between the same mode as part of public transport journeys. I don't.'

"The Lord Mayor says he is against connections. Is the Lord Mayor also against traffic lights, roundabouts or intersections connecting roads together? In the same way road intersections and traffic lights or roundabouts might cause motorists a brief wait, but are essential for connecting roads together to form a network, smart use of connections are essential for public transport. We know there is demand for buses to train stations because train station car parks and surrounding local streets are overflowing with cars."

"Worldwide, cities are reforming their bus networks. In the last five years a major shift in thinking has swept cities worldwide on how to run public transport. Perth runs buses to specially designed bus-rail interchanges. The Gold Coast runs buses to Light Rail with passenger connections and it has been a success. Brisbane is being left behind, clinging to yesterdays failing paradigm and falling bus patronage."

"In our opinion, TransLink should be very mindful when choosing contractor(s) for the bus network. A cheap but anti-bus reform contractor might ultimately cost the State Government significantly more money over the life of the contract if it is uncooperative and locks the bus network into a costly, redundant 'legacy mode' that is too infrequent for most purposes, thus causing fares to explode or bus driver redundancies from failing to attract patronage from car users. Patronage on the bus network is falling, bus reform is needed to reverse it."

"Fare cuts have been achieved only by 'loosening the belt', but further increasing the subsidy with no improvement to bus service quality. This is just charging us more through the back door for the same old services."

"Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low cost public transport for all."

Contact:

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

References:

Auckland Transport, Auckland City Council, New public transport network (image) https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/new-public-transport-network/

* Brisbane City Council Meeting Minutes The 4395 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 12 February 2013 at 2pm

* Brisbane City Council Meeting Minutes The 4399 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 12 March 2013 at 2pm

West Auckland new network consultation http://transportblog.co.nz/2014/10/21/west-auckland-new-network-consultation/

[brissypete]

Translink just need to tell BT where to go (literally and figuratively).

Brisbane Transport (BT) is not the fundamental issue, it is BCC as HTG points out ..

Personally, I think BT  crew, drivers, support staff do a great job as able, despite the incompetent and self-serving meddling of the Council.

Ok, it was BCC i meant, you would think being the same political party would make things easier but as always in politics if they think they might lose votes thats all that matters.

Im pro connections myself, the G20 hub plan is a reasonable example of the concept.

I do a 3 segment journey Fairfield Station to Coro Drive, Auchenflower to get to work because its the best option (Train to South Bris, Bus CC to KGS then 412).  I could get a 444 from CC or Roma St but its crowded and often gets caught on Milton Rd.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Queensland Times published 24th October 2014 page 23

We need facts on bus patronage, not spin