Train Boycott : 17 March, 2011 - Poll

[Fares_Fair]

In your opinion, was the Train Boycott of 17 March, 2011 successful ?
Yes, No or Undecided/Inconclusive.

In your opinion, is it something that should or could be used again to highlight very IMPORTANT issues ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

I think it was successful.

You might have periodical options sometime in the future no doubt...

[Arnz]

Undecided/Inconclusive, though it was successful in getting the minister's attention, that's for sure.   

Periodic capped fares are a strong chance of coming back. 

[somebody]

Too right it was!  Look at all the media attention it got.

[mufreight]

As a boycot, no the numbers overall were too low, but it did draw media attention to the failings of the system and that Government is obliged to provide affordable public transport.
It was successful in applying sufficent pressure on the Government, the Transport Minister and Translink for a collective rethink of the fare structure so it was a political success, the degree of that success yet remains to be seen.

[Fares_Fair]

As a boycot, no the numbers overall were too low, but it did draw media attention to the failings of the system and that Government is obliged to provide affordable public transport.
It was successful in applying sufficent pressure on the Government, the Transport Minister and Translink for a collective rethink of the fare structure so it was a political success, the degree of that success yet remains to be seen.

... that's because a major Queensland newspaper that had this story ready for print a week before the Boycott day, didn't publish until the day of the Boycott.
I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

[#Metro]

In your opinion, is it something that should or could be used again to highlight very IMPORTANT issues ?

Imagine 'Drive to work day' where everybody refuses to use public transport and drives to work causing mass congestion to highlight the importance of public transport did briefly cross my mind but was dismissed as crazy.

Look, people need to work. A badge or something people can wear would be one idea.

[Stillwater]

Have people express their concern by bringing with them on the train a single can of a food item - baked beans, corn, beetroot .... whatever.  Have people outside major stations with wheelie bins at the ready.  People register their 'protest' by placing a tin inside the wheelie bin.  Food collected in the wheelie bins is given to charity (Food Bank -- who will collect it.)
The number of cans represents the size of the protest.

[Stillwater]

If you think the cans of food would be too heavy to handle ... then have people deposit in the wheelie bins a single roll of toilet paper each - to show that Brisbane's train system is 'going down the toilet'.   

[Stillwater]

Alternatively, limit the toilet roll protest idea to SC and GC lines -- to object to lack of toilets on long distance Citytrain services to both coasts.   

[ozbob]

Our most successful media effort ever.  An overwhelming success by any standard.

I was still doing follow up radio interviews yesterday (19th)

It doesn't matter what one does, always individuals who think otherwise ...  

A 'boycott' is something that should not be done willy-nilly, only for the big issues that have stalled, eg. go card fare structure and price impacts.  It was a perfect issue for a 'boycott'.