Ministerial Statement: Big go card giveaway

[ozbob]

"Thank you for contacting TransLink regarding the go card giveaway.  I apologise for the delay in responding to you.


I can assure you that if you already have a go card you have saved money, as you are being charged less that a paper ticket price for the journey.


The promotion is open to all residents of Queensland who do not already have a TransLink go card to encourage more people to use public transport.


We hope that this information has been of assistance to you.

Kind regards"

Rather pathetic response IMHO.   It is little wonder that there is much community resentment against TransLink and the bureaucracy generally.

Better would be ' We acknowledge that you are not eligible under the conditions, but we wish to encourage more people to use public transport.  We thank you for your use of the go card to this point."

The assertion that a go card user has saved money is not a valid assertion. Some might have but not all.

[ozbob]

Follow up:

13th July 2010

Greetings,

One of our members enquired of TransLink as to why they were not eligible for a free go card with $10 on it.

This is the response received after some delay:

"Thank you for contacting TransLink regarding the go card giveaway.  I apologise for the delay in responding to you.


I can assure you that if you already have a go card you have saved money, as you are being charged less that a paper ticket price for the journey.


The promotion is open to all residents of Queensland who do not already have a TransLink go card to encourage more people to use public transport.


We hope that this information has been of assistance to you.
 
Kind regards"

What a meaningless and in my opinion an insulting response.  To assert a present go card user has saved money relative to the obscene fare cost increases in paper (which have left many pensioners reeling from the cost impacts for example)  and this then justifies their exclusion is outrageous.  Many go card users have spent a lot time and money on phone calls trying to negotiate fixed fare refunds via a hopeless administrative support processes. Fortunately this has finally been improved with the recent online addition, why this wasn't in place from day one of the roll-out is rather mysterious isn't it?  Many go card users have suffered the impact of fixed fares due to faulty equipment and poorly designed user interfaces.  The failure to properly acknowledge the contribution by the current go card users has been a public relations disaster.  Only yesterday a group of Senior citizens were complaining to me they CANNOT READ THE SCREENS!

The fact that the free go card distribution has been extended just further highlights how botched it is.  Keep the go cards for disadvantaged users, they have suffered enough already.

Community resentment is now significant.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
12th July 2010

Greetings,

Breaking news the 'free' go card distribution to continue.  How about keeping the remaining cards for Seniors and other disadvantaged groups?  Acknowledge the contribution by registered users these past two years.  Slapping them  in the face by excluding them is not smart at all.  Forget the rhetoric, facts speak for themselves.  The distribution has been a flop.

Best wishes
Robert


RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media Release 8 July 2010
 
SEQ:  Suggestions for the remaining 'free' go cards

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said it appears that the 400,000 go card distribution with $10 credit will result in around 50% of the go cards not being claimed.  This provides an opportunity to keep more go cards back for Seniors and other disadvantaged groups, and make a limited travel quantum available for registered go card users as of the 18th June 2010.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The major issue with the go card is the failure of the fare structure to provide capping and periodical options. This is of much concern in view of the phase out of paper tickets at the end of the year. The failure of the 'free' go card distribution also highlights that better frequency of public transport is needed to drive change, rather than attempt to 'buy' new users (1). The major issue with public transport in south-east Queensland is the poor rail frequency, particularly off peak."

"It does seem over 200,000 go cards will be left over.  We suggest that 100,000 go cards be kept for Seniors and other disadvantaged users for future distribution.  The remaining travel quantum be available to registered go card users as of the 18th June 2010.  A simple online claim process could be put in place.  This would recognise the efforts of these registered users in proving the go card system."

Reference:

1. 19 June 2010: SEQ: Go card give away misses the bus http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3981.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 12th July 2010 page 2

Giveaway extended

[ozbob]

Unfortunately some folks appear to have abused this giveaway.  Go cards for sale at ebay!  Crikey!!  See this post at ATDB  here.

[Astro]

I thought I might let you all know that I got my free go card today which has now been registered & works fine. Funny thing is I already have one,the one I paid for last December. All I did was use another name & a spare email address I have. I guess TL didn't think of this. Has anyone else done this?

[ozbob]

It would appear that folks who had a registered card as of June 19th were the ones excluded.  I don't know directly of anyone rorting, I applied for on behalf of some of my inlaws, all legitimate and subject to the usual checks (ie. if checks were done I suppose).  They have a go card now, which was one of the stated aims viz., to get people who don't have a go card to get one and use it on public transport.

I have heard though that some people have obtained more then one card for themselves.  And some folks started selling them on Ebay!   
Don't think that is too smart at all, surely they can be tracked?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here

'Scalpers' sell free Go Cards on eBay

'Scalpers' sell free Go Cards on eBay
DANIEL HURST
July 26, 2010 - 2:10PM

The Queensland government's free Go Card giveaway was meant to boost usage of the public transport smartcard, but one enterprising recipient has tried to cash in on eBay.

The auction website shows five cards pre-loaded with $10 of credit have been sold for $10, while an additional two remained up for sale this morning.

The seller promoted the fact the buyer would not have to pay the normal $5 card deposit, but the sale was shut down this afternoon following a complaint from Translink.

Translink handed out about 300,000 cards - loaded with $10 of free credit and with no deposit required - during a giveaway promotion that closed this month.

A Translink spokesman confirmed the public transport authority had complained to eBay about the Go Card sale.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said scalpers had turned the giveaway into "a joke".

Ms Simpson, who has long criticised the Go Card rollout, said the handout should have been restricted to pensioners, seniors and students.

It should also have been done early this year when paper ticket fares skyrocketed, she said.

"Giving away and trying to shove out the cards in this way has led to this abuse," she said.

"It was done in a way that doesn't help the regular users of public transport."

Ms Simpson argued the money would have been better spent on improving services and security.

Translink chief executive Peter Strachan said the response to the Go Card giveaway had been "excellent" with approximately 300,000 cards given away.

"The on-selling of Go Cards through eBay is totally unacceptable and Translink will take steps to have them removed from sale," he said in a statement.

The sale of the remaining two Go Cards was aborted about 12.20pm today - nearly two days earlier than expected.

The eBay seller is yet to respond to requests for comment.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan used a budget estimates hearing this month to slam the opposition over its "constant disparagement" of the Go Card rollout.

She said more than a million cards had been issued and they were now responsible for 63 per cent of public transport journeys.

[#Metro]

RORT!

More money wasted. It should have been done at the start, or even when go card first came out (how long ago was that!?)

Good now my neighbor has the opportunity to get cards for the mice and his cockatoo and his toucan to.

She said more than a million cards had been issued and they were now responsible for 63 per cent of public transport journeys.

I like GoCard, but the fact is, this could only happen after the scales had to be tipped by making paper very very expensive to force people to change over.
They should just phase out paper. I can't wait until it is 100% electronic.

[Derwan]

Has anyone else done this?

Of course I would NEVER admit to doing any such thing!  That would be dishonest!   

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 26th July 2010 page 1

eBay a no go zone

[Derwan]

They listened!   

From today's mX: "Charities to get Go Cards"

[#Metro]

This is excellent news (for the charities).
I hope people looking for jobs, homeless, refugees, people on hard times et cetera can all get them.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
04/08/2010

Charities to benefit from go card giveaway

Charities and not-for-profit organisations are set to further benefit from the $400,000 go card giveaway.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said charitable and not-for-profit organisations would be invited to apply for the remaining go cards loaded up with $10 travel credit as the next stage of the giveaway.

"We want to make it easier for volunteers and disadvantaged South East Queenslanders to get access to public transport," Ms Nolan said.

"Charities make a significant contribution to our society and we hope that having access to a go card will make it easier to get around.

"Many organisations have already expressed interest and others will be encouraged to do so."

Ms Nolan said the giveaway has been an outstanding success with almost 300,000 cards already given away through community events, flyers and online.

"We are already seeing more people on public transport after the initial stages of the giveaway with 2.52 million trips taken using go card last week - an increase of about 200,000 on the level of go card use prior to the giveaway," she said.

"In just two years since the go card was launched, 1.3 million have been issued and are now used for two-thirds of all public transport trips on the TransLink network.

"Additional adult and child go cards will be available after they proved the most popular categories. And we still have cards for seniors, students and other concessions available."

Respected national industry group the Tourism and Transport Forum yesterday rated go card as the benchmark smartcard ticketing system.

In a comprehensive report released yesterday, TTF ranked the go card as "the best there is" and suggests other jurisdictions could learn from Queensland's example.

"The go card is now part of South East Queensland lifestyle, whether you are a regular public transport user or not," Ms Nolan said.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations can register their interest in the third stage of the giveaway from Monday August 9 at the TransLink website - www.translink.com.au.

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

[#Metro]

  LOL!

A bad news story (Nobody wants the GoCard, not even when free!) has become a good news one.
They should just let the charities have the remainder to distribute to their clientele.

I have read the Tourism and Transport Forum material. The "Go Card is the best in Australia" was a passing comment in the media release for their "position paper", and it does not seem to be an actual assessment. Even if it were, it would be an absurd one as only 2 systems are established (Perth and QLD) with the remainder just in the teething stages, and the others yet to even exist (Sydney, ACT, TAS etc). The small sample size makes the claim rather meaningless actually!

Perth has 71% of trips by their smart card, brisbane 61%. Perth really must have an efficient Public Transport Authority- their system for all 3 modes cost just $35 million, Brisbane cost 5.7 times this amount at $200 million.

http://www.ttf.org.au/Content/gocard030810.aspx
http://www.ttf.org.au/Content/smartcardticketingjuly2010.aspx

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/gocardcharity.php

TransLink's go card giveaway for charitable organisations

TransLink and the Queensland Government are requesting applications for bulk free $10 go cards from suitable charitable organisations as part of the 400 000 go card giveaway. The go cards have $10 travel credit for use on TransLink bus, train and ferry services in South East Queensland.

Submit an application form by 10 September 2010.

Applications are welcome from organisations that provide services to clients and/or volunteer staff who:

    * live in the South East Queensland region
    * use TransLink services
    * currently do not have a go card
    * are eligible for the specific type of go card provided to them
    * have relevant eligibility documentation to support concession benefits.

Conditions

    * Free $10 go card stocks are limited.
    * Charitable organisations are defined per the Australian Taxation Office as having either a:
          o deductible gift recipient status, or
          o tax concession charity status.
    * The applicant will be responsible for the distribution of the cards within their organisation. TransLink may ask to audit this process.
    * Free $10 go card giveaway terms and conditions also apply.

[#Metro]

Amazing, so they do listen. Very very good news!

That Ipswich man who did not have a home should be the first recipient of these free cards.
What a waste of court time, officer, judge and other resources to blindly apply rules with little thought to the context.
People who are looking for jobs could get some too- I hope employment agencies take up the call. (Except if the job is at Australia trade coast or the port, where there is no PT)

Good work TL.

[colinw]

Some businesses are listening too.  My employer will reimburse us up to a certain amount per year for Go Card top ups, or Myki top ups for people at Melbourne office.  Sensible policy given the traffic & parking situation both at tech park and around our South Melbourne office.

[ozbob]

Opposition Statement

Fiona Simpson MP
Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport
Member for Maroochydore

3 September 2010

Commuters slow to take-up free tickets

South-East Queensland commuters have been slow to start using the free $10 go cards handed out by the Bligh Labor Government.

LNP Shadow Minister for Transport Fiona Simpson said Opposition parliamentary questioning had revealed that out of the 272,978 go cards handed out during the Government's free go cards campaign; only a third of the cards had actually been used.

"It is no secret that this long-term Labor Government's free go cards promotion was bungled with Labor unable to even give away all of the 400,000 free go cards," Ms Simpson said.

"Then the LNP revealed that scalpers were cashing in on the giveaway, selling the "free" go cards on eBay.

"Now we know that less than 90,000 of the free go cards have even been used — quite frankly, this policy has bombed."

Ms Simpson said the number of unused cards indicates a need for temporary tickets and flexible fares.

"This shows that there is a market for temporary go cards for casual users and tourists, which the government promised would be rolled out, but we are yet to see," she said.

"Instead Labor has given away thousands of preloaded go cards at considerable expense to Queensland taxpayers, but has failed to convert this into increased use of these go cards.

"Other electronic public transport ticketing systems around the world can offer discounts and flexible ticketing, but the Bligh Labor Government has written that off claiming it is simply too hard."

[#Metro]

Three silver bullets:
It's the frequency!
It's how the network links up
It's how the services are timed to co-ordinate

It goes to show, that even if you set transport fares = ZERO
(or in this case make it negative $10.00, equivalent to paying people to use PT) they will not use it if the service quality and frequency is bad.

* capping is a no-brainer
* re-organisation of the bus network to feed rail and provide cross-town services to give anywhere-to-anywhere trips through a transfer.

[STB]

Most 'Go cards' given away not yet used

By Chris O'Brien

Posted 16 minutes ago


273,000 of the public transport fare cards were handed out - 89,000 have been used. (7pm TV News QLD)

Map: Brisbane 4000 The Queensland Government and the Opposition have opposite interpretations of a recent "Go Card" giveaway in the south-east.

273,000 of the public transport fare cards were handed out - 89,000 have been used.

The Government says that is hugely successful.

The Opposition says the giveaway has bombed.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/03/3001480.htm

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
03/09/2010

Go card giveaway getting more people on board

More than 115,000 South East Queenslanders have given go cards and public transport a go so far thanks to the Bligh Government's $4,000,000 giveaway.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said 42 per cent of the cards loaded up with $10 free credit were used within a month of being given away.

"The giveaway is aimed at people who don't use public transport often or haven't made the switch to go cards yet so it's been an excellent response," Ms Nolan said.

"We're already given away more than 275,000 free $10 go cards at special events, go ready education sessions for seniors and online.

"Yet it's extraordinary the LNP have seen fit to criticise a giveaway aimed at promoting the use of public transport and helping local charities."

Ms Nolan said more than 300 charities and not-for-profit organisations have applied for free go cards so far as part of the final phase of the giveaway.

"Charities can apply for go cards with $10 free credit depending on their demand for public transport use and cards will be allocated after the giveaway finishes on September 10."

The go card was recently recognised by the peak national transport organisation Tourism and Transport Forum as the leading transport smartcard in Australia.

Of the 1.3 million go cards that have been issued since the roll out began in 2008, more than 470,000 individual cards were used during June.

"go cards are now used for more than 60 per cent of all trips taken on public transport and I would expect that figure to continue to rise as new users and charities take advantage of this offer," Ms Nolan said.

"It's disappointing to hear more mindless criticism from an Opposition with no plans, no policies and no ideas for public transport use in Queensland."

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

[somebody]

* capping is a no-brainer

How so?  Your own comments argue that there is a low correlation between fares and PT use.  How would a different way of charging roughly the same fares be a good thing?

[ozbob]

I think the major advantage of capping is to encourage more public transport use, particularly other than just the two daily commutes.  Learner earners (students), pensioners, normal commuters can elect to use public transport more frequently during the day and night.  This in turn reduces car use and then accrues benefits overall.  A point we and others have made before.  The 50% discount after ten journeys is a form of capping, but the problem with it is not seen as accessible as a daily cap and so forth.  I think this might be what TT was alluding too.

[somebody]

Yes, well I would refer you to my previous comments.

We agree to disagree.

[#Metro]

How so?  Your own comments argue that there is a low correlation between fares and PT use.  How would a different way of charging roughly the same fares be a good thing?

Simplicity.

Public transport must be simple, reliable, and regular.
It cannot be assumed that everyone will use PT for work. Many people in the community sector, volunteers etc use PT to see clients and that racks up quite a bill for them.

[#Metro]

Go card giveaway getting more people on board

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said 42 per cent of the cards loaded up with $10 free credit were used within a month of being given away.

So less than 50%

"Yet it's extraordinary the LNP have seen fit to criticise a giveaway aimed at promoting the use of public transport and helping local charities."

It's not extraordinary at all. If you have people refusing to claim 50% of something free, actually not free- paying people to use PT, then there is something wrong there isn't it? The timing was botched, it should have been done when the fares were about to go up in January.

Ms Nolan said more than 300 charities and not-for-profit organisations have applied for free go cards so far as part of the final phase of the giveaway.

"Charities can apply for go cards with $10 free credit depending on their demand for public transport use and cards will be allocated after the giveaway finishes on September 10."

This is a worthy thing, but still would have been good had the other 50% or so served its original purpose.

The go card was recently recognised by the peak national transport organisation Tourism and Transport Forum as the leading transport smartcard in Australia.

This claim is just wind. It was a passing comment in the TTF media relase and not really fair as the other smart cards have not had the time to be established. The Perth one was also significantly cheaper than Brisbane.

Of the 1.3 million go cards that have been issued since the roll out began in 2008, more than 470,000 individual cards were used during June.

"go cards are now used for more than 60 per cent of all trips taken on public transport and I would expect that figure to continue to rise as new users and charities take advantage of this offer," Ms Nolan said.

... and as paper is 100% phased out at the end of the year.

"It's disappointing to hear more mindless criticism from an Opposition with no plans, no policies and no ideas for public transport use in Queensland."

It's not mindless criticism, its quite well justified. The lack of plans, policies and ideas for public transport use in Queensland is true however. I've heard nothing about what their PT plans are.

[somebody]

How so?  Your own comments argue that there is a low correlation between fares and PT use.  How would a different way of charging roughly the same fares be a good thing?

Simplicity.

Public transport must be simple, reliable, and regular.
It cannot be assumed that everyone will use PT for work. Many people in the community sector, volunteers etc use PT to see clients and that racks up quite a bill for them.

That is an argument against capping.

[#Metro]

I don't see that it is.
If I want to use PT like a car and go everywhere with it and do multiple trips on it- work, shopping, eating out etc etc and I use the card for a long period of time, then let's see that capped!

I think many people were used to the monthy ticket, where you know up front how much it is going to cost, and then it's all you can eat PT  for the entire month.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

$2m Go Card credit 'wasted'

$2m Go Card credit 'wasted'
Courtney Trenwith
September 3, 2010 - 2:39PM

Almost $2 million worth of free Go Card credit handed out by the government in July is sitting idle in commuters' wallets.

A further $1 million offered was never claimed by south-east Queensland commuters.

In a month-long mass giveaway, the government offered 400,000 of the transport smartcards, with $10 credit each, to those who were not already a registered owner.

About 273,000 cards were taken up, including 30,000 given to seniors and pensioners at "go ready" sessions that teach people how to use the electronic cards.

As of yesterday about 115,000 of the free cards had been used, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said.

It is not known whether the full $10 credit has been spent.

Commuter advocate Robert Dow said $2 million could end up being wasted because the giveaway had been poorly timed.

Mr Dow, spokesman for Rail Back on Track, said the government should set a time limit for the $10 credit to be used before it was retrieved and spent on rail services.

"If those cards are not used within 12 months that money should be put into extra services," Mr Dow said.

"They have to put a time limit on it because we can't afford as a community to have $2 million sitting out there unused."

Mr Dow said the promotion would have been more successful if it had been held earlier in the year, before most regular public transport users already had purchased a Go Card.

Registered users also should have been allowed to obtain a second card.

"It would have been a good way of acknowledging the contribution of the registered users to that point," Mr Dow said.

"They were a very important part of the roll out because they're the ones who were using the cards from day one and who had a lot of issues.

"[Instead, there are] cards which have been given away which at this point have not been used and may not be used."

In defending the promotion, Ms Nolan said it had put nearly 300,000 new Go Cards into the community and would encourage greater use of buses, trains and ferries.

"The giveaway is aimed at people who don't use public transport often or haven't made the switch to Go Cards yet so it's been an excellent response," Ms Nolan said.

Ms Nolan said more than 300 charities and not-for-profit organisations also would receive a free Go Cards as part of the giveaway.

However, Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the program had been "bungled".

"[The] government's free Go Cards promotion was bungled with Labor unable to even give away all of the 400,000 free Go Cards," Ms Simpson said.

"Then the LNP revealed that scalpers were cashing in on the giveaway, selling the 'free' Go Cards on eBay.

"Now we know that [only 115,000] of the free Go Cards have even been used — quite frankly, this policy has bombed."

Ms Simpson said the number of unused cards indicated a need for temporary tickets and flexible fares.

"This shows that there is a market for temporary Go Cards for casual users and tourists, which the government promised would be rolled out, but we are yet to see," she said.

"Instead Labor has given away thousands of preloaded Go Cards at considerable expense to Queensland taxpayers, but has failed to convert this into increased use of these Go Cards."

The electronic card system was introduced two years ago and will replace paper tickets next year.

About 1.3 million Go Cards have so far been issued.

Take-up of the cards has been controversial, following huge increases in the costs of paper tickets in January.

Paper ticket prices rose by up to 40 per cent on January 4, while Go Card fares increased by 20 per cent.

Ms Nolan said the peak national transport organisation, Tourism and Transport Forum, had named Go Card the leading transport smartcard in Australia.

"Go Cards are now used for more than 60 per cent of all trips taken on public transport and I would expect that figure to continue to rise," Ms Nolan said.

[somebody]

It is a complication to have capping as you have to think about what zones you need in your cap and then add them to your card every week or month.  Perhaps you can have a recurring cap, but then you need to think about when you need that.

Car use doesn't have capped expenditure!

The real problem with what you are refering to, TT, is the gouging flag fall on the go card, and on paper tickets.

[#Metro]

I think dwb came up with a zone-free capping idea, similar to mobile phones.
I don't know- the least TL could do is see what people think about it.
I would like to cap my expenditures as many times I will do more than just the 2 trips in a day.

Cars don't have capped expenditure but night link flat fare taxis do and all PT in Melbourne also does.

Other than that, I think PT prices are OK. It's the frequency, network and service quality, that need improvement.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
17/09/2010

Charities to receive more than 100,000 free go cards

More than 330 charitable organisations will receive over 100,000 free go cards as part of the final phase of the Bligh Government's 400,000 go card giveaway.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today handed out the first allocation of go cards loaded up with $10 free credit to Ipswich charities.

"There was an overwhelming response to the giveaway with over 330 charities applying for free go cards to give to their volunteers and clients," Ms Nolan said.

"These free go cards will make it easier for hard-working volunteers and disadvantaged Queenslanders to access public transport.

"The successful charities will be contacted shortly to receive their allocation of go cards.

"Training sessions will be available to help the organisations educate their volunteers and clients on how to use go cards."

Ms Nolan said go card giveaway had been a huge success with applications for almost 380,000 go cards.

"The first phase involved distributing about 30,000 go cards through the successful go ready program for seniors and pensioners and the remaining cards will be given out at future sessions," Ms Nolan said.

"Phase two saw go cards given away online, via local newspapers and at 10 community events across South East Queensland.

"During the final phase selected charities, not-for-profit organisations and selected educational institutions which support marginalised members of the community were invited to apply for an allocation of go cards.

"The aim of the go card giveaway was to encourage more people to give public transport a go or make the switch from paper tickets, so this is an excellent result.

"go cards are now used on more than 60 per cent of all trips taken on public transport and I expect that figure to continue to rise as new users and charities take advantage of this offer."

For further information about go card and public transport services, visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30.

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

[STB]

I'm not sure if this is part of the giveaway but I saw this notice in my uni email inbox...

If you are studying full-time at Griffith with a QR logo on your student
card, you are eligible to receive a free go card with $10 credit on it