16 Sep 2009: SEQ: Smart state is the late state ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 16 September 2009

SEQ:  Smart state is the late state ...

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has previously called for free Sunday public transport travel for Senior Citizens (1, 2, 3).  Senior citizens have access to a special seniors Go Card (a red Go Card), and as a further incentive for uptake of the card and to encourage senior citizens to get out and about, it would be a simple matter to program the smart card system to allow seniors free travel on Sundays.  In these difficult times a further initiative with positive community benefits would be the re-introduction of a family ticket arrangement for weekends.  Allow up to three children to accompany a fare paying adult for free on weekends. This is done in other states (4).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Free travel for Senior citizens on Sundays was introduced by the Victorian Government on the 27 August 2006 in Melbourne. This worthwhile initiative has been a huge success and when on visits to Melbourne it has been encouraging to hear senior citizens comment on how helpful it has been to them."

"Western Australia also has free travel for seniors. WA Seniors, Aged and Disability Support Pension cardholders are entitled to travel for free on all Transperth services between 9.00am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday, as well as public holidays (5)."

"South Australia has free travel for seniors between 9.01 am to 3 pm weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays (6)."

"New South Wales has family tickets. An adult travelling with more than one child only pays for themselves and the first child. All other children travel for free (7).  On Sundays, there is also Family Funday Sundays (8 ).  A low fare gives unrestricted travel on Sundays."

"Recent announcements of the portability of Seniors? public transport travel concession entitlement cards around the nation make a lot of sense. As part of this it would make even more sense to standardise some of the concessions afforded to our Seniors."

"Public transport in south-east Queensland has some slack on weekends, and it will be no additional load for our public transport generally to make these ticketing concessions available.  It will assist families and senior citizens to get out and about, visit family and friends, and have more healthy life styles. It will assist them in this time of financial stress."

"Other Australian state governments get on with positive community initiatives, why are we marking time in Queensland? Presently we are in a public transport stalemate state in SEQ. Lets move forward with smart moves that encourage utilisation of our public transport network and improve efficiency with the reduction in congestion costs, reduced environmental impacts and less expenditure for our health system."

References:

1.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=52.

2.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=567.0

3.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1982.0

4.   http://www.vline.com.au/fares/concessionfares/familytraveller.html

5.   http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/FreePublicTransportTravelEntitlements/tabid/400/Default.aspx

6.   http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/publish_article/Seniors_free_travel.html

7.   http://www.131500.com.au/faresandpasses/tickets_family.asp

8.   http://www.131500.com.au/faresandpasses/funday.asp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org