TransLink SEQ - COVID-19 changes

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1262403944292089858

[James]

Hearing the figure of 7 people (including the driver) on board your average 12.5m BCC bus certainly doesn't bode well for any attempt to enforce social distancing on board public transport. There are already services running which exceed that.

Social distancing is going to need a practicality reality check (and good on TransLink for indicating as much), or else I fear we are very quickly headed for carmageddon like we've never seen it before.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1263020483835883520

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2020/2020_05_20_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice 20th May 2020

Public Transport

Ms PEASE: My question is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Will the minister please
update the House on how the government continues to support public transport and roads for families
and businesses in my community and across Queensland as they prepare to return to work and school?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the honourable member for Lytton for her question. We were the first state
to declare a health emergency, and we have acted very, very strongly in a very united way in terms of
addressing the challenges for public transport. We have flattened the curve. We have done a range of
things, such as tripling cleaning on our trains and enhancing cleaning across our public transport
network. We have brought in cashless boarding and we have brought in rear door boarding. We have
put in a $54½ million package to support our operators across the bus and ferry networks across
Queensland, and we have kept the full timetable in train for the whole situation with the pandemic so
we can ensure that all of our essential workers can get to work and that we maximise social distancing.

That full timetable continues to run, but apparently those opposite do not support running the full
timetable. We have seen the member for Chatsworth saying in the media that it makes no sense to do
that, and the member for Everton, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, has said that it is a waste of
money. That sounds like code for cuts to me. In the middle of a pandemic, the LNP policy is to cut
public transport services at a time when our community needs it the most.

This is again another case of the opposition mismanaging public transport. They ordered trains
from overseas that were not disability compliant. They cut the train driver training by 48 drivers. We
saw their mismanagement when they were in government. They cut the Cross River Rail project. This
Labor government is building Cross River Rail, we are doing the Sunshine rail duplication and we are
doing two stages of the light rail. We even have a plan to protect that heavy rail corridor to the Gold
Coast Airport. We are the only major party that does that. The member for Burleigh made it clear in the
Currumbin by-election that there will be no heavy rail corridor to the Gold Coast Airport from Varsity
Lakes. That is their policy. The LNP policy was very clear in the by-election—there would be no heavy
rail corridor to the airport but they would run the light rail along there and there would not be room for
both.

In light of that, I was curious to see the member for Currumbin suggest that she supports a heavy
rail station at Elanora. I am not sure how that is possible when the LNP policy is to not run a heavy rail
line there at all. Is the LNP policy to build a heavy rail station at Elanora with no trains and no track? It
makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. This is another public transport anomaly and diabolical policy
from those opposite.

With students heading back to school and workers heading back to their offices, I encourage
everyone to keep up with social distancing and good hygiene and to adjust their travel if required. From
this week, Queenslanders will start to see messages appear on trains, buses and station platforms to
keep up their efforts and make sure we continue to flatten that curve going into the future, as we have
done so well compared to other jurisdictions.
(Time expired)

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> No plan to limit patrons on Brisbane trains, buses and ferries

Queensland is not planning to limit the amount of passengers using public transport as coronavirus restrictions ease, instead hoping staggered clock-on times reduce the number of people aboard.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said planning was under way to ensure public transport remained safe during the pandemic.

"We have already brought in a range of measures from day one to make public transport safer and at the moment the numbers [of passengers] are down considerably, 77 per cent," he said.

"We are having no problem with social distancing at this point, but what we will see is that will continue to adjust as people start going back to more normal patterns.

"We are not going to spring back to exactly the way we were before."

Occupancy limits will not be enforced on Queensland public transport as it has in NSW.

"At this stage we are not proposing to do that, and look, NSW is in a very different situation to Queensland," Mr Bailey said.

"We have seen a lot more community transmission in NSW, a lot more infections and a lot more deaths, sadly.

"We are tracking the return of people to work and at the moment there has been a very small return on public transport," he said.

"We do not expect there to be an issue for some time on our public transport system."

Mr Bailey said cleaning had already tripled on trains, bus passengers were required to board via the rear doors and cash was no longer being accepted in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

"We will be looking at other measures, for instance, where we do have some more demand, providing extra supplements to whether it is a bus or a train network.

"We will probably see some staggered starting times both public and private, that will be helpful to spread the morning and afternoon peaks so the level of demand is spread over a greater period of time."

The Queensland government was expected to reveal its COVID-safe public transport plan within the next week.

Share on Facebook

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1263132816537075713

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st May 2020

Managing social distancing on SEQ public transport - some comments

Greetings,

Public transport is an essential service, and we thank the Queensland Government, TransLink and public transport operators for maintaining normal levels of service throughout the COVID-19 situation. This is absolutely the correct thing to do in our view.

We have seen recently that the NSW Government has suggested that their public transport passenger capacity be reduced significantly, ideally 14% of normal capacity on buses and 24% of normal capacity on trains.  Already the NSW Minister of Transport has said that those levels are desirable guidelines and he acknowledges that they will not always be achievable.  The approach so far in SEQ on public transport has not been prescriptive passenger reduction directions but of sensible measures such as rear door boarding/exiting on buses, no cash fares, improving cleaning and other advice for an informed public essentially managing social distance requirements themselves ( https://translink.com.au/service-updates/274176 ).  This is in our view the correct approach for the SEQ jurisdiction.

As passengers begin to return to the public transport network we suggest a number of things need to be messaged and acted upon. Hopefully many people will continue to work from home and this will help manage passenger loading.

. If unwell do not travel. Seek medical advice.

. To encourage passengers to travel out of peak more services need to be in place for at least two hours after peak, specifically between 8.30-10.30am and 7pm to 9pm, and additional services during the peak and counter-peak where heavy passenger loading is a constant issue (travel out of peak times is 20% cheaper with a go card). Simply advising people to stagger journey times runs the risk of overloading out of peak services if there are not enough services.

. Encourage the use of non-medical grade face masks/coverings when unable to properly social distance (  Face masks should be used on public transport as Australians return to work, leading epidemiologist says https://www.sbs.com.au/news/face-masks-should-be-used-on-public-transport-as-australians-return-to-work-leading-epidemiologist-says ).

. We also think that all public transport staff - particularly bus drivers and ferry crew be offered proper medical grade respiratory masks.

Many citizens need to use public transport. Simply forcing passengers off public transport is not the answer.  It is a matter of balanced and sensible advice and sound management, as has already been demonstrated and we hope continues.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1263180046308540417


====

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

Just completed an interview on ABC Sunshine Coast radio host Annie Gaffney on COVID-19 related changes to public transport and measures as outlined above, with particular reference to the Sunshine Coast line and what extra services could be put in place to allow staggering of times of travel.

For example the Caboolture services that leave Central at 6.37pm  and 7.37pm, extend to Nambour.

Morning, additional services 8.38am and 9.38am out of Nambour.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1263268545221160961

[ozbob]

Just completed an interview on ABC Sunshine Coast radio host Annie Gaffney on COVID-19 related changes to public transport and measures as outlined above, with particular reference to the Sunshine Coast line and what extra services could be put in place to allow staggering of times of travel.

For example the Caboolture services that leave Central at 6.37pm  and 7.37pm, extend to Nambour.

Morning, additional services 8.38am and 9.38am out of Nambour.

Interview ABC Sunshine Coast Radio Robert Dow RBoT and host Annie Gaffney Mornings, discussion on social distancing on rail and what could be done for the Sunshine Coast line.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcSCrd21may20.mp3 MP3 13.1MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1263299333140574211

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 22nd May 2020 page 9

Don't cut transport capacity

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd May 2020

Follow up interview Re: Managing social distancing on SEQ public transport - some comments

Good Morning,

A follow up interview on ABC Sunshine Coast radio.

Interview 21st May 2020 ABC Sunshine Coast Radio Robert Dow RBoT and host Annie Gaffney Mornings, discussion on social distancing on rail and what could be done for the Sunshine Coast line.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcSCrd21may20.mp3 MP3 13.1MB

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

21st May 2020

Managing social distancing on SEQ public transport - some comments

Greetings,

Public transport is an essential service, and we thank the Queensland Government, TransLink and public transport operators for maintaining normal levels of service throughout the COVID-19 situation. This is absolutely the correct thing to do in our view.

We have seen recently that the NSW Government has suggested that their public transport passenger capacity be reduced significantly, ideally 14% of normal capacity on buses and 24% of normal capacity on trains.  Already the NSW Minister of Transport has said that those levels are desirable guidelines and he acknowledges that they will not always be achievable.  The approach so far in SEQ on public transport has not been prescriptive passenger reduction directions but of sensible measures such as rear door boarding/exiting on buses, no cash fares, improving cleaning and other advice for an informed public essentially managing social distance requirements themselves ( https://translink.com.au/service-updates/274176 ).  This is in our view the correct approach for the SEQ jurisdiction.

As passengers begin to return to the public transport network we suggest a number of things need to be messaged and acted upon. Hopefully many people will continue to work from home and this will help manage passenger loading.

. If unwell do not travel. Seek medical advice.

. To encourage passengers to travel out of peak more services need to be in place for at least two hours after peak, specifically between 8.30-10.30am and 7pm to 9pm, and additional services during the peak and counter-peak where heavy passenger loading is a constant issue (travel out of peak times is 20% cheaper with a go card). Simply advising people to stagger journey times runs the risk of overloading out of peak services if there are not enough services.

. Encourage the use of non-medical grade face masks/coverings when unable to properly social distance (  Face masks should be used on public transport as Australians return to work, leading epidemiologist says https://www.sbs.com.au/news/face-masks-should-be-used-on-public-transport-as-australians-return-to-work-leading-epidemiologist-says ).

. We also think that all public transport staff - particularly bus drivers and ferry crew be offered proper medical grade respiratory masks.

Many citizens need to use public transport. Simply forcing passengers off public transport is not the answer.  It is a matter of balanced and sensible advice and sound management, as has already been demonstrated and we hope continues.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1263713513333121025

====

COVID-safe public transport plan

https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/travel-information/covid-safe-transport-plan.pdf

[BrizCommuter]

Shocker, 2 BrizCommuter articles in 2 days. Don't expect another for 6 months!
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2020/05/social-distancing-on-trains.html
An article on the implications of social distancing norms on trains.

[ozbob]

Shocker, 2 BrizCommuter articles in 2 days. Don't expect another for 6 months!

https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2020/05/social-distancing-on-trains.html

An article on the implications of social distancing norms on trains.

====

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1263904312620576768

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> No bus or train measures as Queensland students head back to class

Queensland will not put restrictions on public transport use, as students prepare to go back to school and many workers get set to return to offices from next week.

The staged reopening comes as the government continues to defend its closed domestic borders, under pressure from NSW, the tourism industry and federal government MPs.

The state recorded a second day in a row with no new cases of COVID-19, its cumulative total on 1058, 12 of which are considered active, with four of those cases still being treated in hospital.

After the first sitting week of Parliament in months and a blowtorch of public scrutiny over the border stoush, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pointedly did not have a public media conference on Friday.

Instead, Transport Minister Mark Bailey stood up to give details about how the transport system would deal with social distancing as it saw numbers increase.

Mr Bailey said there was no need to put any special measures in place to enforce social distancing on public transport, saying people needed to use "common sense".

"There's certainly a lot of space on public transport at the moment, so there's no problem in terms of social distancing," he said.

"If you're about to get on a bus or a train carriage and it looks very crowded, it's probably best not to get on that one and maybe try another carriage or maybe wait for the next service."

Mr Bailey said public transport use was down about 70 per cent due to coronavirus, although they expected to see an uptick in passenger numbers from next week as all children were allowed back into schools.

Queensland's lack of measures on public transport is at odds with NSW, where caps on passenger numbers have been announced.

Public health expert Professor Gerard Fitzgerald said if the rates of community transmission of the virus were as low as the case numbers suggested, then there was little need for any extra measures on public transport.

However, he agreed with other experts who have suggested the closed environment of a bus or train could be one of the situations where wearing a mask could be beneficial.

"While we know that a mask you wear around the place won't really protect you [from contracting the virus], if everyone on the bus or train wore the mask then if there is anybody who is infectious then hopefully they will have a mask on as well, and that could provide some level of protection," he said.

"But that's in addition to the fact that you shouldn't be leaving your house if you feel unwell in the first place, you should get tested and stay at home."

Cleaning has been increased on public transport, passengers are required to pay with Go Cards only, with cash banned, and bus commuters are required to enter via the rear door.

It comes as federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Friday backed a legal challenge by far-right senator Pauline Hanson to Queensland's border closures.

Senator Hanson has launched a High Court proceeding against the closures, claiming they are unconstitutional.

Ms Palaszczuk laughed off the action earlier in the week, saying by the time the court made a ruling, the borders would likely be reopened anyway.

But Mr Dutton said the One Nation leader was entitled to her day in court.

"People are right to test [whether the closures are unconstitutional] if they think it's not. Because it is impacting on people's lives," he said.

Meanwhile, Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has reiterated her position on the criteria for reopening the borders.

Dr Young said it was only COVID-19 cases of unknown origin in other states she was concerned about when considering when borders could be reopened.

"It's only local transmission that I am concerned about. I do expect that there are other cases, I do expect that there will be cases of people who are in quarantine - that's not a concern," she told Radio National.

"This is local transmission, this is when you do not know where those cases have come from."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1263853363403173888

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1264665796728348672

[timh]

and now likely due to Covid-19 so the network probably wont be under much pressure by 2025.

Our illustrious UQ is taking a hammering at the moment in the media due the ongoing situation with HK/CN........making main topic of discussion on some popular channels....
They are headed for trouble and the their reputation is going to be tarnished heavily......could result in less international enrollments....hence less train and bus patronage...

I doubt your average 17 year old high school leaver will know enough/care enough so I don't think domestic enrolments will change much.
IF the university does have these "pro-China policies" then yeah it might affect international enrolments negatively for countries that aren't China... but most international enrolments for UQ from China anyway afaik.

[techblitz]

remove IF.....

UQ spending at least 300k (including 2 international law firms) to have him expelled kinds of sends the message on what they would rather protect first......their full upfront fee paying student revenue stream......over a students right to exercise free speech against an authoritarian regime...

Tell ya what.....UQ had better allocate some alternate funds for a 'please xplain' when the government comes knocking asking for proof that they don't have a pro-china policy.....that time will come soon enough.....momentum is already building...

With QLD currently being a labor run state at the same time VIC labor has shown interest in chinas BR initiative......QLD does not need negative worldwide press coverage that may arise from this UQ situation.......it could affect future investment in this state...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/student-known-as-vocal-critic-of-china-faces-expulsion-from-australian-university/2020/04/16/1a1e0a9a-7ee0-11ea-84c2-0792d8591911_story.html


And it definitely isn't going to turn into 'yesterdays news tomorrow' any time soon...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Transport Minister considers additional services as picture of packed QLD bus emerges

SOCIAL distancing on public transport has proven difficult for Queenslanders to adhere to, with the state's Transport Minister saying pictures of packed buses were "the type of images we don't want to see".

A photo taken on the public Stradbroke Island Bus Service on Sunday morning showed at least 30 people crammed into the back of the bus.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said it's important that people continue to do their bit to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

"Queenslanders have been leading the pack on the coronavirus response, which is why our number of active cases is so low, but these are the type of images we don't want to see," Mr Bailey said.

"On public transport that means keeping up your hygiene and adjusting your travel.

"As we've seen in New South Wales, capping the number of people in public transport is already proving difficult, with their transport authorities already looking at backtracking on restrictions."

Former Queensland Chief Health Officer and Professor of Public Health at QUT Gerry Fitzgerald said public transport was a "tricky" issue for the government but the risk of catching COVID-19 on public transport in Queensland was small.

"I don't know how we can have public transport and keep 1.5m distance," Professor Fitzgerald said.

"People aren't going to be able to sit 1.5m apart otherwise people will be waiting hours for buses.

"I think the risk is small ... If you can't social distance, maybe wearing a mask can be helpful, not that it protects you but it might protect others from your virus."

Professor Fitzgerald stressed the importance of staying off public transport if you are even slightly sick.

"If anybody in Queensland got a cold or a sniffle right now they most likely have got a cold, not COVID-19 ... but what we don't want is confusion posed by widespread common colds," he said.

As part of the government response to COVID-19, bus operators have increased cleaning and sanitation on buses and where possible have introduced rear-door boarding.

"Our plan going forward includes looking at additional services to shoulder those peak loads and larger buses on busier routes," Mr Bailey said.

"I've asked my department to talk with the operators to see what needs to be done as people start to travel to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) again."

SD is not enough in closed spaces.  Personally I am flabbergasted at the lack or action on face masks/coverings.  Anyone catching public transport at present should be masked.  This helps to reduce spreading by anyone with COVID-19 and provides a level of protection to others.  Community transmission rates are very low, when you add in face masks, the risks become very very low ( Face masks should be used on public transport as Australians return to work, leading epidemiologist says https://www.sbs.com.au/news/face-masks-should-be-used-on-public-transport-as-australians-return-to-work-leading-epidemiologist-says ).  I worked around medical establishments for around 40 years before I retired. Masks are routine to protect patients and yourself.

[verbatim9]

I think the new 3 door articulated buses will be starting to service route 60 (Blue Glider) within the next month. They were meant to begin service in April.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1265716518878187520

====

This is the way to do it ..

[BrizCommuter]

The problem is that medical grade face marks are not in great supply, and makeshift cloth facemasks are somewhat debatable if they even work anyway.

[ozbob]

The problem is that medical grade face marks are not in great supply, and makeshift cloth facemasks are somewhat debatable if they even work anyway.

I am not suggesting medical grade.  There are reusable masks available and these are ideal for low risk situations.  They are good in that they reduce droplet transmission from someone infected with COVID-19 who may not be aware they have it.

Face masks should be used on public transport as Australians return to work, leading epidemiologist says
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/face-masks-should-be-used-on-public-transport-as-australians-return-to-work-leading-epidemiologist-says

[ozbob]

The Age --> Chief Medical Officer backs voluntary use of face masks on public transport

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has backed the voluntary use of face masks on public transport, after the national cabinet rejected a proposal to make them compulsory.

Professor Murphy said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee had recognised that "in a public transport situation, people may choose to wear masks when up close to other people and we recognise that is not an unreasonable thing to do".

The comment is a departure from the previous official advice that there was no benefit in ordinary citizens wearing masks while in public, and comes as new academic research indicated that wearing masks can reduce the risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 while asymptomatic.

The Chief Medical Officer warned masks did not provide "a complete protection", echoing the concern of infectious disease experts that they could give wearers a false sense of security. The AHPPC advice remains that Australians must stay home if they are sick.

Professor Murphy said the routine use of face masks in the community was still not recommended, while the rate of community transmission remained low. The AHPPC guidelines state masks should be used if "a person feels unwell and travel by public transport is unavoidable", such as to access emergency medical care.

An academic study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal BMG Global Health on Friday found masks were 79 per cent effective at curbing transmission - but only before symptoms emerged. It found that masks were not effective after symptoms emerged.

Infectious disease expert Raina MacIntyre, a professor at the UNSW's Kirby Institute, who co-wrote the paper, said that while it was based on data from Chinese families who wore masks at home with a loved one who had COVID-19, its findings were relevant for Australians.
"The tide of evidence and opinion is overwhelming all over the world," Professor MacIntyre said, calling for masks to be provided on trains, trams and buses and in supermarkets, where "you see people breaking the social distancing requirements all the time".

"Just like how they have hand sanitiser and wipes at the entrance of the supermarket, and you wipe down your trolley," she said.

"Every country, particularly ones that are going to open up and get things going again, is going to have to consider it ... It's a low-risk intervention and there's a potential benefit."

Public transport experts have called for face masks to be made mandatory on buses, trains and trams to lower the chance of transmission as workers return to their offices, after more than 40 countries made them compulsory.

The BMG research paper tracked 460 people from 124 Beijing families where at least one member had tested positive to COVID-19, studying their household hygiene and behaviours during the pandemic, and included those who wore cloth masks, disposable surgical masks and medical-grade N95 masks.

The study found the daily use of disinfectants, window opening, and keeping at least a metre apart were associated with a lower risk of passing on the virus, even in more crowded households. Disinfection was found to be 77 per cent effective at stopping the virus from spreading.

"This study confirms the highest risk of household transmission being prior to symptom onset, but that precautionary [non-pharmaceutical interventions], such as mask use, disinfection and social distancing in households can prevent COVID-19 transmission during the pandemic," the authors wrote.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast woman forced to walk to next stop over Queensland border pass confusion

ON her way back from a doctor's appointment in Tweed, Robyn Green caught the bus for the first time in months but her return route wasn't what she expected.

The Kirra Beach resident said she was made to get off the bus before re-entering her home state because she didn't have the right documentation.

"In our car I have a pass, but I didn't realise I needed it for the bus," the 59-year-old said.

"When we got around the corner and the lady said has everyone got their pass, I thought my driver's license has got my address on it for Queensland.

"The policeman came on and said you have to get a pass."

Four bus stops away from her destination, Mrs Green went to get a new pass so she could get home.

"They weren't really sure how to get me a pass, so I was told because I have a Queensland driver's license, to knick around past everybody and head to the next bus stop."

[verbatim9]

Wary of going back on public transport? Here are some tips

#coronavirus #publictransport

https://t.co/oq4bqRUBnu

https://twitter.com/InQldMedia/status/1267712555163639809

[Golliwog]

Couriermail --> Transport Minister considers additional services as picture of packed QLD bus emerges

Don't think this was posted before. Following on from this, Translink have increased services on Stradbroke:
https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/4525183494174347

TransLink

29 May at 17:24
If you're heading over to Straddie this weekend, plan to play your part on public transport!
You should:
👉 leave a gap between yourself and others while on board services and waiting at stops.
👉 adjust your travel to avoid peak times or consider waiting for a later service.
👉 keep it clean by staying home if you're unwell and following the Queensland Health hygiene advice.
There'll also be additional services running this weekend to help you on your way. For more travel tips visit https://bit.ly/33OSZJ7

Any other service changes anyone has noted? This one doesn't seem to have a specific service update on the actual Translink site, just the Facebook post.

[verbatim9]

I think it has been posted re additional city services not Straddle though. I didn't realise Straddie was that popular via PT. Interesting!. The Minister mentions more articulated services. So maybe some or all of the new bus builds could be articulated to prevent over crowding on key HF services like the 412, 444, 222, 345, 385, 330 and 333, as well as the 66, 111 and 60. But the 412  other than the 60 should be addressed prior to next semester

[Golliwog]

I think it has been posted re additional city services not Straddle though. I didn't realise Straddie was that popular via PT. Interesting!. The Minister mentions more articulated services. So maybe some or all of the new bus builds could be articulated to prevent over crowding on key HF services like the 412, 444, 222, 345, 385, 330 and 333, as well as the 66, 111 and 60. But the 412  other than the 60 should be addressed prior to next semester

It's not that always as easy as just switching to artics though.

I'm not sure about the other routes, but I have asked about the 385 before - the section on Metroad 5 from Coopers Camp Rd has corners that prevent artics from running.

[brissypete]

Overcrowding on the 444 could be reduced easily if pax use other routes that go the same place, it's the lack of alternatives at Cultural Centre that contribute. 444 can be fully seated departing CC outbound in the morning peak. A lot of pax get off on Coro Drive and there is plenty of room on the other assorted coro drive routes.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[Cazza]

I didn't realise Straddie was that popular via PT. Interesting!.

From my understanding and observations, it's heavily used by day trippers (such as high school kids who don't have a licence or tourists) and those who can't afford/don't need to pay the cost of taking their car over (such as uni students or people in that sort of age range). It's not uncommon (particularly in the summer holidays) for the bus to be full after picking up people getting off the Straddie Flyer at One Mile Jetty. I have seen an occasion where another bus had to be called in to pick up those left behind.

But the 412  other than the 60 should be addressed prior to next semester

I believe UQ is staying online of the rest of the year. May need to be fact checked on that, however that is what I've seen and been told.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TaipeiUrbanism/status/1268572865395224576

[James]

I believe UQ is staying online of the rest of the year. May need to be fact checked on that, however that is what I've seen and been told.

UQ will be doing a hybrid online / in-person delivery format for Semester 2. However, with a significant amount of international students not coming this year, and students likely to prefer to attend a tutorial from their bed at 9am vs leaving home at 7:30am for uni, I doubt we'll see anything like usual crowds.

This said, even 30% of the typical Week 1 loading would cause issues with 'social distancing'.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Traffic chaos tipped as more opt to drive after COVID-19 lockdown

BRISBANE'S traffic woes are expected to increase as commuters ditch public transport to maintain social distancing.

Statistics released by TransLink show train ridership is still less than a third of what it was this time last year, while bus trips have halved on May 2019.

However, traffic on state government roads was only down 11 per cent in the week to June 3, compared with the same period in 2019.

Public transport use has staged a modest comeback from the strictest period of lockdown in mid-April, when ridership was down a whopping 83 and 86 per cent on 2019 figures on the bus and train networks respectively.

A TransLink spokesman labelled the improvement in ridership a "slight upturn" and urged returning commuters to continue to practice social distancing.

"TransLink expects this increase in patronage to continue as more restrictions are eased and workers return to the office," the spokesman said.

"The health and safety of customers and staff is TransLink's priority and we are monitoring developments with COVID-19 closely and continuing to act on official health advice," he said.

Despite the crash in ridership, the spokesman said timetables had remained normal throughout lockdown to promote social distancing for essential journeys.

Rear-door boarding of buses and regular cleaning of trains were implemented following concerns that COVID-19 could be spread through door buttons and endanger transport workers.

Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy said the rail operator would not ease new cleaning practices post-pandemic as he expects rail ridership to increase in coming months.

"Queensland Rail will continue to help minimise the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining our increased cleaning measures, reminding customers to practice social distancing through regular announcements, and keeping services cashless," Mr Easy said.

Despite the measures, road usage was only 11 per cent below the levels recorded in early June 2019.

"With travel restrictions now relaxed, traffic volumes continue to increase," a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said.

Even non-car owners were turning toward car rentals in a bid to escape reliance on public transport.

Uber this week announced that Australia would be the first country to trial its new hire car service, Uber Rent.

Rival car share service Car Next Door, which has been operating in Brisbane since 2013, also reported that rentals have surged since lockdown restrictions eased.

"We were budgeting for 8,000 trips this month, based on how things went in April," Car Next Door co-founder Will Davies said.

"We're on 17,000."

"We've doubled our expectations, and all of that is because of how quickly Australia has come out of (the pandemic)."

Mr Davies said the surge in trips was primarily due to users without cars wanting to avoid public transport.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th June 2020

Non medical masks/face coverings on public transport

Good Morning,

In line with the latest guidelines from the WHO it is time we encourage the use of non medical masks/face coverings on public transport.  We have low community transmission rates which would be even lower if the latest WHO policy was followed. It is not possible to always achieve social distancing on public transport or many other enclosed spaces. To think so is a fools paradise.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

Document WHO-2019-nCov-IPC_Masks-2020.4-eng.pdf page 7 table 2

Table 2. Examples of where the general public should be encouraged to use medical and non-medical masks in areas with known or suspected community transmission


Settings where a physical distancing cannot be achieved (close contact)

General public on transportation (e.g., on a bus, plane, trains) Specific working conditions which places the employee in close contact or potential close contact with others e.g., social workers, cashiers, servers

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

21st May 2020

Managing social distancing on SEQ public transport - some comments

Greetings,

Public transport is an essential service, and we thank the Queensland Government, TransLink and public transport operators for maintaining normal levels of service throughout the COVID-19 situation. This is absolutely the correct thing to do in our view.

We have seen recently that the NSW Government has suggested that their public transport passenger capacity be reduced significantly, ideally 14% of normal capacity on buses and 24% of normal capacity on trains.  Already the NSW Minister of Transport has said that those levels are desirable guidelines and he acknowledges that they will not always be achievable.  The approach so far in SEQ on public transport has not been prescriptive passenger reduction directions but of sensible measures such as rear door boarding/exiting on buses, no cash fares, improving cleaning and other advice for an informed public essentially managing social distance requirements themselves ( https://translink.com.au/service-updates/274176 ).  This is in our view the correct approach for the SEQ jurisdiction.

As passengers begin to return to the public transport network we suggest a number of things need to be messaged and acted upon. Hopefully many people will continue to work from home and this will help manage passenger loading.

. If unwell do not travel. Seek medical advice.

. To encourage passengers to travel out of peak more services need to be in place for at least two hours after peak, specifically between 8.30-10.30am and 7pm to 9pm, and additional services during the peak and counter-peak where heavy passenger loading is a constant issue (travel out of peak times is 20% cheaper with a go card). Simply advising people to stagger journey times runs the risk of overloading out of peak services if there are not enough services.

. Encourage the use of non-medical grade face masks/coverings when unable to properly social distance (  Face masks should be used on public transport as Australians return to work, leading epidemiologist says https://www.sbs.com.au/news/face-masks-should-be-used-on-public-transport-as-australians-return-to-work-leading-epidemiologist-says ).

. We also think that all public transport staff - particularly bus drivers and ferry crew be offered proper medical grade respiratory masks.

Many citizens need to use public transport. Simply forcing passengers off public transport is not the answer.  It is a matter of balanced and sensible advice and sound management, as has already been demonstrated and we hope continues.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

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