Article: FlexiLink taxi service under fire (QT)

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

FlexiLink taxi service under fire

FlexiLink taxi service under fire

Josephine Gillespie | 28th February 2011

THE much-maligned FlexiLink taxi service has come under fire once again at a protest rally held in Ipswich on Saturday.

Under former Transport Minister and Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan, bus routes 505, 510 and 523 were axed in December last year and replaced with a taxi service, FlexiLink, which in most cases has to be booked a day in advance.

A rally at the Ipswich Workers Club on Saturday was attended by about 80 people.

The meeting was chaired by retired Tivoli businessman John Turner, who said the FlexiLink service was failing residents.

"We are stuck with a new service which is totally unreliable," Mr Turner said.

"A lot of times they either turn up late or don't turn up at all, and then I have to turn to private taxis and pay full fare, which is hard when you are on the pension."

The 70-year-old said the government had looked at the economics and forgotten their obligation to the people they represented to provide them with a public transport service.

Among those also voicing their concerns was Basin Pocket resident Lyn Kelly. On Friday she had organised to be picked up at Riverlink, only to have her FlexiLink taxi go to Bell Street by mistake.

She said the error left her waiting for more than an hour, and it wasn't the first time she had been left waiting.

"When it was first introduced and there were hiccups they said it would be ironed out," Ms Kelly said.

"It has been three months and the problems have not been ironed out."

Save Our Buses spokeswoman Patricia Petersen said she was delighted so many pensioners were in attendance, however, extremely disappointed that others who wanted to attend couldn't because they didn't have access to public transport and couldn't afford to pay a taxi fare of around $100.

She said attendees had unanimously voted to not stop fighting for their buses and to storm Parliament House if they don't get the buses back.

Guest speaker, Queensland Party leader Aidan McLindon, said he viewed the axing of bus routes as a slap in the face of the community.

"At a time when so many people every week are moving to Queensland, they should be increasing public transport services, not decreasing them," he said.

New Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk told The Queensland Times last week that she would follow up on residents' complaints.

Ms Palaszczuk said FlexiLink was on trial and its effectiveness would be evaluated once the trial is over.

[ozbob]

Media Release 23 December 2010

SEQ:  A modified 505 Bus route?

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 suggested that there is an opportunity to put on a modified 505 bus route in Ipswich.  The withdrawal of the 505 bus route has had the most impact as indicated by public feedback.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The withdrawal of the bus routes at Ipswich, namely the 505, 510 and 523 (1) has not been without a lot of public concern, angst and debate.  The FlexiLink replacement service is operating but it is not the best solution for all."

"The loss of the 505 bus route seems to the major issue.  We think there is an opportunity to reinstitute a modified 505 bus route based on the following proposed route.  This route is only a suggestion and could be further modified as needed.

Depart Bell St – left into Brisbane St – left into East St – continue into Pine St – left into Lowry St – left into Riverlink – left into Downs St – right into Lowry St – left into Pine St – left into Wyndham street –

Right into Cyprus St – left into Kay St – right into Connors St – left into Roberts St – right into Holdsworth Rd – right into Francis St – right into Mt Crosby Rd – continue into Moores Pocket Rd then return up

Moores Pocket Rd continue into Mt Crosby Rd – right into Junction Rd – continue into Arthur Summervilles Rd – right into Elaine St left into Oxley St – right into Philip Cres  - right into Junction Rd – left into Mt Crosby Rd – continue into Moores Pocket Rd – return up Moores Pocket Rd into Mt Crosby Rd – left into Francis St – left into Holdsworth Rd – left into Roberts St – right into Connors St – left into Kay St – right into Cyprus St – left into Wyndham St –right into Pine St – left into Lowry St – continue into Riverlink – right into The Terrace – right into Pine Street – left into Olga St – left into King Edward Parade – left into Bell St.

"This covers most of the area of the old 505 with the extension of the service into Karalee, it does leave a service gap along Waterworks Rd and Holdsworth Rd and also Hill Street."

"The new 505 route could be low floor midi bus 33 seater as a dedicated bus.  Many elderly citizens have mobility access issues with FlexiLink taxis."

"Another alternative is that the alternate new 515 services could be rerouted along the old 505 route from the intersection of Pine Mountain Rd and Waterworks Rd with the University services running through to Tivoli and the Brassall services linking to the Yamanto services."

"We welcome TransLink's committment to further improve the FlexiLink services, but in the case of the 505 bus we request a rethink and restoration of a bus service, albeit modified."

Reference:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1291788886

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th February 2011

Greetings,

The FlexiLink arrangements at Ipswich in lieu of the bus withdrawals continue to cause concern.  TransLink is working hard to address issues,  but FlexiLink  simply is not meeting the community's needs.

We think that the 505 can be restored easily (see media release below).  The other routes need proper bus support as well.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

From the Queensland Times click here!

FlexiLink taxi service under fire

FlexiLink taxi service under fire

Josephine Gillespie | 28th February 2011

THE much-maligned FlexiLink taxi service has come under fire once again at a protest rally held in Ipswich on Saturday.

Under former Transport Minister and Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan, bus routes 505, 510 and 523 were axed in December last year and replaced with a taxi service, FlexiLink, which in most cases has to be booked a day in advance.

A rally at the Ipswich Workers Club on Saturday was attended by about 80 people.

The meeting was chaired by retired Tivoli businessman John Turner, who said the FlexiLink service was failing residents.

"We are stuck with a new service which is totally unreliable," Mr Turner said.

"A lot of times they either turn up late or don't turn up at all, and then I have to turn to private taxis and pay full fare, which is hard when you are on the pension."

The 70-year-old said the government had looked at the economics and forgotten their obligation to the people they represented to provide them with a public transport service.

Among those also voicing their concerns was Basin Pocket resident Lyn Kelly. On Friday she had organised to be picked up at Riverlink, only to have her FlexiLink taxi go to Bell Street by mistake.

She said the error left her waiting for more than an hour, and it wasn't the first time she had been left waiting.

"When it was first introduced and there were hiccups they said it would be ironed out," Ms Kelly said.

"It has been three months and the problems have not been ironed out."

Save Our Buses spokeswoman Patricia Petersen said she was delighted so many pensioners were in attendance, however, extremely disappointed that others who wanted to attend couldn't because they didn't have access to public transport and couldn't afford to pay a taxi fare of around $100.

She said attendees had unanimously voted to not stop fighting for their buses and to storm Parliament House if they don't get the buses back.

Guest speaker, Queensland Party leader Aidan McLindon, said he viewed the axing of bus routes as a slap in the face of the community.

"At a time when so many people every week are moving to Queensland, they should be increasing public transport services, not decreasing them," he said.

New Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk told The Queensland Times last week that she would follow up on residents' complaints.

Ms Palaszczuk said FlexiLink was on trial and its effectiveness would be evaluated once the trial is over.

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

Media Release 23 December 2010

SEQ:  A modified 505 Bus route?

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 suggested that there is an opportunity to put on a modified 505 bus route in Ipswich.  The withdrawal of the 505 bus route has had the most impact as indicated by public feedback.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The withdrawal of the bus routes at Ipswich, namely the 505, 510 and 523 (1) has not been without a lot of public concern, angst and debate.  The FlexiLink replacement service is operating but it is not the best solution for all."

"The loss of the 505 bus route seems to the major issue.  We think there is an opportunity to reinstitute a modified 505 bus route based on the following proposed route.  This route is only a suggestion and could be further modified as needed.

Depart Bell St – left into Brisbane St – left into East St – continue into Pine St – left into Lowry St – left into Riverlink – left into Downs St – right into Lowry St – left into Pine St – left into Wyndham street –

Right into Cyprus St – left into Kay St – right into Connors St – left into Roberts St – right into Holdsworth Rd – right into Francis St – right into Mt Crosby Rd – continue into Moores Pocket Rd then return up

Moores Pocket Rd continue into Mt Crosby Rd – right into Junction Rd – continue into Arthur Summervilles Rd – right into Elaine St left into Oxley St – right into Philip Cres  - right into Junction Rd – left into Mt Crosby Rd – continue into Moores Pocket Rd – return up Moores Pocket Rd into Mt Crosby Rd – left into Francis St – left into Holdsworth Rd – left into Roberts St – right into Connors St – left into Kay St – right into Cyprus St – left into Wyndham St –right into Pine St – left into Lowry St – continue into Riverlink – right into The Terrace – right into Pine Street – left into Olga St – left into King Edward Parade – left into Bell St.

"This covers most of the area of the old 505 with the extension of the service into Karalee, it does leave a service gap along Waterworks Rd and Holdsworth Rd and also Hill Street."

"The new 505 route could be low floor midi bus 33 seater as a dedicated bus.  Many elderly citizens have mobility access issues with FlexiLink taxis."

"Another alternative is that the alternate new 515 services could be rerouted along the old 505 route from the intersection of Pine Mountain Rd and Waterworks Rd with the University services running through to Tivoli and the Brassall services linking to the Yamanto services."

"We welcome TransLink's committment to further improve the FlexiLink services, but in the case of the 505 bus we request a rethink and restoration of a bus service, albeit modified."

Reference:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1291788886

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[KCSHB]

For commuters from Goodna to/from Camira Springfield Augustine Heights Bellbird Park a circular rout is ideal provided buses run on time. 3-4 buses running a simple rout servicing the suburbs during peak and maintaining existing services should cater to demand and encourage growth. At a minimum the route can be covered easily with 4 buses, 2 in each direction. the whole trip is 30km and depending where you live the trip to the station would be only 15km the most as you would eventually figure out which way is quicker.

The problem with services not being able to meet demand is because they are overly complicated. (its job security for the route planners)

Commuters will walk further to catch a reliable service as evidenced by my foreign countries. the bus service cannot be expected to pick commuters from their house. The area in question is similar to many urban cities and with population expansion and petrol prices going up this will be an attractive route.

On most days (when 523 used to operate) the first bus is cancelled atleast 50% of the time with no report to Translink (I know because when I call the call centre they say there are no cancellations reported) that the bus was cancelled but delayed and the next bus is run to collect the few commuters. As no one is there to complain the operator gets of by getting paid for a service not run.

Then again what do I know! I am a stupid commuter eh!