All Door Bus Boarding for Brisbane - discussions

[ozbob]

Twitter

Rail Express ‏@RailExpressNews  16s

All-door bus boarding to become a reality in Sydney http://bit.ly/1TYahFX  #rail

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

Brisbane ... 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th August 2015

Re: Brisbane Bus Reform: Extend All Door Boarding!

Good Morning,

Well well ...

Sydney Morning Herald --> Rear-door bus boarding in Sydney proves a success, made permanent

   

Commuters will be able to permanently board from the back of the bus at some of Sydney's busiest stops.
    Transport for NSW trialled rear-door boarding in June and, Transport Minister Andrew Constance said, the results proved a success.
    "Some services were able to move away from the stop up to 40 seconds faster," Mr Constance said.

    "It may not sound like much, but every second counts when people are trying to get home."

    The new system will apply only to buses boarding at five stops in central Sydney. And it will begin on Tuesday, October 6, the first workday following a wholesale reorganisation of the city's bus routes ...

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/reardoor-bus-boarding-in-sydney-proves-a-success-made-permanent-20150818-gj1rfz.html#ixzz3jByrRRDX

Meanwhile, in Brisbane we tumble down the livability scale ..



Sad is it not?

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 18th May 2015 re-released 13th August 2015



Brisbane Bus Reform: Extend All Door Boarding!

RAIL Back on Track calls on Transport Minister Jackie Trad to take action and fix Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's bus network. Under our New Bus Network Proposal, Brisbane will have Australia's best bus network within two years. Bus reform means more buses, more often!

New Bus Network Proposal (Updated)
http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network
http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

Report: Frequency is Freedom
http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

All Door Boarding Trial

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A simple and quick way to improve the bus network is to speed up buses by making boarding and alighting much faster. Given the very good results from an all door boarding trial in San Francisco, USA, we propose a trial of all-door boarding be done in Brisbane on the  high-volume bus routes. All door boarding is already in use on the Blue and Maroon CityGliders."

"The 66 bus dwell times at QUT Kelvin Grove can take up to 5 minutes or more. A change to all door boarding will reduce these delays.

"Suggested routes for all door boarding:

Route 412 CBD-St Lucia
Route 66 RBWH-UQ Lakes
Route 29 W'Gabba-UQ Lakes
Route 209 Carindale-UQ Lakes
Route 139 Sunnybank-UQ Lakes
Route 169 Eight Mile Plains - UQ Lakes

"Because it requires no new heavy infrastructure, bus reform is a fast, effective and inexpensive way to fix up and modernise Brisbane's bus network.

"Bus Reform can be a signature, landmark, state-building project by the current administration. It can be completed entirely within the first term of office."

Contact:

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


References:

San Francisco All Door Boarding Trial success
http://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/agendaitems/2014/12-2-14%20Item%2014%20All%20Door%20Boarding%20Report.pdf

Fixing Graham Quirk's Broken Bus Network
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg154120#msg154120

Bus Cost Explosion To Engulf Lord Mayor Graham Quirk?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11318.0

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane bus commuters set for a rear entry trial

Inner-city commuters will be able to board buses via the back door in a trial set to be announced on Friday.

And Brisbane ratepayers have had a slight reprieve in the cost of the Legacy Way tunnels, with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to announce a $60.7 million saving.

Cr Quirk said the council was working with Translink to trial a "lead stop" arrangement along Adelaide Street, between George and Albert streets outside City Hall, that would see passengers board buses from all entrances.

Lead stops allow several bus services to stop behind each other at a single platform, as opposed to separate designated stops for different services.
Advertisement

Cr Quirk said planning for the trial, which would also include pre-purchased ticketing in the area, would start in December.

"This is an opportunity to tackle congestion by trialling a lead stop arrangement on Adelaide Street and identify bus stop and streetscape design improvements that can be leveraged to enhance the amenity of Adelaide Street and improve travel times for all commuters," Cr Quirk said.

"Adelaide Street is a key bus corridor and I'm sure the planned improvements would be welcomed by all users of the street whether they are bus commuters, motorists, cyclists or pedestrians." ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-bus-commuters-set-for-a-rear-entry-trial-20151126-gl97j8.html

[ozbob]

LOL  amazing what potential political oblivion can achieve hey?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th November 2015

Brisbane Bus Reform: Extend All Door Boarding!

Good Morning,

Some more good news!

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane bus commuters set for a rear entry trial

It is difficult to not be cynical though ....  why are public transport users treated poorly until an election is approaching?

Still, better late than never I guess.

Have a great day!

Best wishes

Robert

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

Media release 18th May 2015 re-released 13th August 2015



Brisbane Bus Reform: Extend All Door Boarding!

RAIL Back on Track calls on Transport Minister Jackie Trad to take action and fix Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's bus network. Under our New Bus Network Proposal, Brisbane will have Australia's best bus network within two years. Bus reform means more buses, more often!

New Bus Network Proposal (Updated)
http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network
http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

Report: Frequency is Freedom
http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

All Door Boarding Trial

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A simple and quick way to improve the bus network is to speed up buses by making boarding and alighting much faster. Given the very good results from an all door boarding trial in San Francisco, USA, we propose a trial of all-door boarding be done in Brisbane on the  high-volume bus routes. All door boarding is already in use on the Blue and Maroon CityGliders."

"The 66 bus dwell times at QUT Kelvin Grove can take up to 5 minutes or more. A change to all door boarding will reduce these delays.

"Suggested routes for all door boarding:

Route 412 CBD-St Lucia
Route 66 RBWH-UQ Lakes
Route 29 W'Gabba-UQ Lakes
Route 209 Carindale-UQ Lakes
Route 139 Sunnybank-UQ Lakes
Route 169 Eight Mile Plains - UQ Lakes

"Because it requires no new heavy infrastructure, bus reform is a fast, effective and inexpensive way to fix up and modernise Brisbane's bus network.

"Bus Reform can be a signature, landmark, state-building project by the current administration. It can be completed entirely within the first term of office."

Contact:

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


References:

San Francisco All Door Boarding Trial success
http://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/agendaitems/2014/12-2-14%20Item%2014%20All%20Door%20Boarding%20Report.pdf

Fixing Graham Quirk's Broken Bus Network
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg154120#msg154120

Bus Cost Explosion To Engulf Lord Mayor Graham Quirk?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11318.0

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 2m

Latest media: Extend All Door Boarding! > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11322.msg164747#msg164747 ...

#qldpol @Team_Quirk @Rod4Bris @BenPennings O_o

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th November 2015

Bus Reform: Lord Mayor Quirk Reverses TransLink Bus Superstop Opposition

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track welcomes Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's bus superstops policy reversal.

Adelaide Street superstops were originally proposed by TransLink in the 2013 bus review, the same review that the Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Councillors rejected. Indeed, Brisbane City Council instructed its own staff not to attend meetings with TransLink staff on six occasions.

Journalist Tony Moore from the Brisbane Times newspaper wrote about superstops in 2013. This included superstops on Adelaide Street:

"Six "Super Stops", which will group bus services to particular suburbs, will be set up in the Brisbane CBD.
These six "super stops" will be the King George Square Bus Station, the Queen Street Bus Station, two on Adelaide Street (one eastbound and one westbound), one on George Street and another on Ann Street.
...
Adelaide Street (eastbound) will accommodate Hamilton, New Farm, and Toombul bus services.
Adelaide Street (westbound) will manage Cannon Hill, Carindale, Redlands and West End bus services."

We support citywide all door bus boarding. A trial of all door boarding in San Francisco has had excellent results. After the trial finished, San Francisco converted its entire bus network to all door boarding. All door boarding should be introduced to all high-frequency bus services, at all stops because it cuts waiting time.

These sudden policy changes are due to the looming council elections. The LNP has held the Lord Mayoralty since 2004, and after almost a decade in power, voters are fed up with high fares, a lack of decent bus service in many suburbs and long waits for buses.

Indeed, we are tipping 'Team Quirk' will announce a Lord MayorGlider just before the Brisbane City Council elections as a wildcard policy in an attempt to fend off Lord Mayoralty challengers.

Our members are already guessing which one it could be. There are three good contenders for a Lord MayorGlider:

230 BulimbaGlider - CBD, SE Busway, Riding Road, Bulimba, Balmoral, Thynne Rd, Morningside Rail Station.

400 CentenaryGlider - CBD, Coronation Drive, Moggill Road, Mt Ommaney, Darra Rail Station

300 ToombulGlider - CBD, Fortitude Valley, Kingsford Smith Drive and Toombul. (Brisbane City Council carried out basic studies into a ToombulGlider as part of the Lord Mayor's Mass Transit Report 2007)

Frankly, it is our opinion that Brisbane's buses are a mess. The network has become rinky-dink under the stewardship of the Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Council. Passengers have  abandoned the Lord Mayor's buses in droves. So these policy reversals are welcome, and we would like to see more reversals.

The sooner Brisbane City Council's reverses its damaging and diabolical opposition to bus reform, the sooner we can look forward to abundant and low-cost public transport for all.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

Major shake-up to southeast bus services
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/major-shakeup-to-southeast-bus-services-20130307-2fnob.html

Brisbane bus commuters set for a rear entry trial
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-bus-commuters-set-for-a-rear-entry-trial-20151126-gl97j8.html

[red dragin]

All door boarding won't change fair evasion levels much, the driver can't intervene anyway. There may only be a slight increase albeit most likely unnoticed.

[verbatim9]

Hopefully extended to Bus way stations as well

[techblitz]

All door boarding won't change fair evasion levels much, the driver can't intervene anyway. There may only be a slight increase albeit most likely unnoticed.

theres certain routes which will be easy targets for attempted rear door fare evasion though...specfically the inala/acacia ridge routes.....majority of which comes from school aged passengers...but the pros definitely outweigh the cons...

[Simon]

If you look at comment 6 and believe it, you'll see that camera systems to monitor passengers are not only missing on a sizeable chunk of the fleet, they're also not able to be monitored by the driver in real time. Perhaps the CityGliders have this facility but no others?

In spite of this possibility, it is unforgivable to not utilise all door boarding, even if supervisors are needed, away from games at the Gabba. Would shift the crowds much more effectively. I expect similar problems at Suncorp although I've never used these services.

[ozbob]

Yep, agree that is years late.

When I was in Victoria last trip, I went on the buses that connect to Regional Rail Link stations, boarded by rear door with my myki.

It was good to see the pax split on boarding into two streams, speeds it up dramatically of course.  The short time I was there I did not observe anyone boarding at the rear that did not touch.

[Sound Transit]

start of with a trail at all busway and bus stations(in BBC) and all inner CBD Stops

[ozbob]

Yep, agree that is years late.

When I was in Victoria last trip, I went on the buses that connect to Regional Rail Link stations, boarded by rear door with my myki.

It was good to see the pax split on boarding into two streams, speeds it up dramatically of course.  The short time I was there I did not observe anyone boarding at the rear that did not touch.

They do use all door boarding at events such as Suncorp and Concerts as I understand it here is Brisbane.  Why not, it is generally ' free ' anyway.

I would like to see much more widespread rear door boarding permitted.

Some of the Brisbane depots are 100% CCTV these days. 

[ozbob]

I remember the 88 bus   -  rear door boarding a feature.  When I travelled on it on the first day, I boarded at Indooroopilly via rear door and got a fixed fare!  LOL

Scored a fixed fare today on attempting to board a P88 bus G1370 via rear door at Indooroopilly ...

Route 88 is a pre-paid service that offers rear door boarding for go card users.

http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1291342773

[ozbob]

Gee, that is nearly 5 years ago now.  Wow, time goes fast hey ?   

[Simon]

They do use all door boarding at events such as Suncorp and Concerts as I understand it here is Brisbane.  Why not, it is generally ' free ' anyway.

I would like to see much more widespread rear door boarding permitted.

Some of the Brisbane depots are 100% CCTV these days.

Not that long ago (this year or last) they weren't using it at the Gabba.

AFAIK, CCTV doesn't necessarily mean the driver can see it - or at least in the usage of it in Brisbane it seems.

[achiruel]

Why is RBoT not suggesting the 111 as a service that should have all-door boarding?

Also, I agree with the earlier poster who said drivers shouldn't still tickets at busway stations & interchanges with ticket machines. This includes go card topups. I've lost count of the times at Loganholme I've seen people wait for the bus to turn up then want to top up on board.

[ozbob]

Errr ...  we have constantly suggested that all door boarding is a no-brainer ..

What is your point? 

[verbatim9]

The 66, 111, 130 and 333 are definitely routes that  should go all door boarding and 700 on the Gold Coast.

[SurfRail]

Just go the whole hog, seriously.  100% system wide.  Why not?  I can think of no good reason that doesn't involve union scare stories as opposed to actual reasons why it would be impractical.

In Perth, Sydney and elsewhere the readers don't have silly arbitrary restrictions on whether you can touch on or off at the back.  Seems to work for them, and it means when you have an artic and you need to fill it up quickly you can open all the doors and go nuts.

[verbatim9]

Agree with all that there

[ozbob]

Twitter

Taras Grescoe ‏@grescoe 2h

One way to make bus more like a subway: #LA tests all-door boarding on express buses.

http://thesource.metro.net/2016/03/24/pilot-all-door-silver-line/ ...

[ozbob]

No doubt about it, PT in SEQ is a backwater ...

[verbatim9]

Twitter

Taras Grescoe ‏@grescoe 2h

One way to make bus more like a subway: #LA tests all-door boarding on express buses.

http://thesource.metro.net/2016/03/24/pilot-all-door-silver-line/ ...

I like all the bus reforms they have done in LA, very successfull. In LA you only have to touch on. Be good to have reforms here as well as BCC taking some advice from the LA Metro board. Brisbane has the same layout as LA (vast and wide) and on par as one of the biggest municipalities area wise in the world.

[tazzer9]

Worst part about brisbane is that all door boarding happens on the city gliders.  Apart from drivers occasionally forgetting that they should open the back door, its proved successful.

Rant time: boggo rd/park rd busway station and UQ lakes desperately need all door boarding.   Anyone who uses there knows what a clusterf*ck it can get there.  having busy buses pulling over and then having completely empty ones (often 29's) skipping past refusing to stop, meaning hundreds are left behind. While taking several minutes to fill up when the empty do stop.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

29th April 2016

Our Challenge: Open The Bus Back Door

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track members are concerned about the lack of action in key areas of transport policy:

1. Bus Reforms and our New Bus Network Proposal
2. Fare Reforms - including Fare Review and Concessions for Unemployed
3. Removal of All Public Transport from BCC
4. Cross River Rail

Our New Bus Network went public in November 2014. It is now 2016. Fare review report is well overdue as are the concessions the ALP promised at the last election. BCC is playing havoc with the bus network, bringing it to the edge of collapse in our opinion, and Cross River Rail remains an unfunded project that has languished for more than seven years.

Has the Queensland Government become frozen at the wheel?

So, a simple challenge for the Queensland Government: Open the back door of the bus.

All door boarding for the following BUZ services:

111 Eight Mile Plains BUZ
222 Carindale BUZ via Eastern Busway
333 Chermside BUZ
444 Moggill BUZ

This measure requires no new infrastructure, no new services, no new buses, no new major funding, no consultants, no business cases, no community consultation - nothing. Just get the back door of the bus open so that people can board from the back and front of the bus.

We think six months is a reasonable period to have this sorted out and operating out on the network. So by Monday 31st October 2016, we hope to see it out on the network.

If the Queensland Government cannot deliver something as simple and costless as this, then there is no hope for Queensland or any of the infrastructure projects the government is touting.

Good Luck!

Best wishes
Robert

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

[tazzer9]

Add the 66, 169 and 412 to that list.

[James]

Add the 66, 169 and 412 to that list.

Now now, don't get carried away, this is Queensland you're talking about!

[tazzer9]

Add the 66, 169 and 412 to that list.

Now now, don't get carried away, this is Queensland you're talking about!

Those 3 need it far more than than the 222,333 or 444.   111 i'm unsure how high the loadings are.   Until you experience the pain of trying to get onto a bus at boggo road and then getting off at UQ and vice versa you won't get it.  66 and 169 make good candidates since they are busway only routes.

They also need to try to get rid of what I call the "worse than hitlers".  people who get off using the back door when they are towards the front of the bus. Could be easily done with a few posters, plenty of buses have no internal advertising or its very outdated. 

[#Metro]

Now now tazzer. Simple tasks first.

Get the 4 done. Then more can be considered after that.

Wouldn't want to make it 'too hard' for the QLD Gov now would we?

[ozbob]

All door boarding begins on the Silver Line this Sunday! Info: https://t.co/akd3Xpz8Xm pic.twitter.com/QbkyNa5LM4

— Metro (@metrolosangeles) June 21, 2016

[ozbob]

^ Meanwhile ... in Brisbane and environs ..

[verbatim9]

In the fare survey recently there was a question pertaining to all door boarding. I ensured that it was ticked and in free format advocated again for the change to all door boarding on all High frequency routes throughout Se Qld. There is the issue re Fare evasion on the Gold Coast  busses I see older teenagers and even people in their early 20s just walk on for free as the bus drivers do not want confrontations. Translink Officers would need to be more vigilant and police the 700 and busway routes more often to as late as possible.

[ozbob]

All door boarding was one of the fare review recommendations hence the question.  It is not only the GC but all operators are essentially told not to challenge those determined not to pay a fare.  You are right, more SNO patrols on buses is needed.  I reckon fare evasion is highest on buses in SEQ compared to other modes.

[Otto]

As a Driver, I personally have no problem with all door boarding. It works well on the Maroon Glider services that I operate as part of a range of routes I do.
We certainly need more SNO's on the buses, as you can see by my stats below, halfway through the year and SNO's have only boarded my services twice to check pax this year.
On average, we do 8 trips per day x 5 days a week = 40 trips a week x 47 work weeks per year = 1,880 trips per year.
So roughly 940 trips so far this year and SNO's were only on 2 trips. No wonder pax who only catch a bus twice a day are not worried about getting caught.

all operators are essentially told not to challenge those determined not to pay a fare.

Many do board without paying and just say "I will take the risk" knowing the chance of getting caught is near non existent on the buses.
I would like to see SNO's stationed at certain strategic stops around the network where we can just signal them to let them know we have a 'person of interest' on board. I'm sure that would be more efficient that just randomly riding on services .

[ozbob]

^ Thanks Otto. Useful insights.

[SurfRail]

Major problem with all-door boarding is that virtually all operators go out of their way to make this harder to implement.

Narrow single leaf side door?  Check.

Stairwell in the side door (anything built by Bustech since they were founded except their double deckers)?  Check.

Staircase or slope inside the bus at the rear due to space inefficient underfloor engine layout?  Check.

We need to be much smarter about bus specifications but nobody is ever interested.

[#Metro]

It is similar with a tram, though i hear that Melbourne's trams are fare evasion central. Many trams also have steep stairs on them.

Ultimately I think ticketing can get around this. If people are signed up to a monthly pass or similar, then it will reduce 'spontaneous' free

riding, as they already have paid.


Some key stations should be controlled - mainly the Helensvale Rail / LRT interface and GCUH could have fare gates.

[ozbob]

Fare evasion on trams is < than bus in the big V.

The latest rates from PTV are  train 2.6% tram 4.8%, bus 5.1%

http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/ptv-data-and-reports/research-and-statistics/

October 2015 Official Fare Compliance Series  > http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PDFs/ptv_data_and_reports/MACA_Patronage_and_Revenue_Report_Fare-Compliance_October-2015_Victorian_Final.pdf