Article: Minister hints at commuter budget relief

[dwb]

"A weekly, from memory, was equivalent to approx. 3.5-4 daily cost trips."
Correct, four daily trips. Wasn't inconsequential to me either and I'm only in Zone 3.

I think the weekly and 10 trip costs were always wrong. They were equal cost to each other, which was 4x daily ticket cost. It itself this was not bad, however 10 trips were generally more popular than weeklies with Brisbane commuters. The reason being that most school students and 9-5 workers counted on NOT catching PT at least once or twice a week (instead getting a lift, riding a bike, running, walking). Given that the weekly expired each week and was harder to buy (you had to either go to a train station or get an upgrade from the kiosk in the mall), 10 trippers prevailed.

There never was a groundswell of use of weeklies because most commuters preferred to drive on the weekend. I suspect any new weekly offer would be of similar use.... ie only useful to the PT ardents. Again not a bad thing in itself as I think there should be a range of products for a range of needs, however I don't believe it will lead to the groundswell change to PT use on the weekends that Bob suggests it might, especially when weekend services aren't being improved and don't serve the more cross town demand that is present on the weekend. And at what cost will that ticket come??

[ozbob]

My own observations and anecdotal comments suggest there where there is a reasonable frequency on weekends, PT is being used well. 

The increased frequency in from Darra (post Richlands) is really driving some growth.  Love to see the GCL go 7 days a week ..

Road congestion around Brisbane is even becoming a problem now on Saturdays and Sundays .. particularly when coupled with the interminable road works etc.

Watch this space!