11 Apr 2011: SEQ: Happy Birthday CityGlider Bus service!

[ozbob]

Media release 11th April 2011

SEQ: Happy Birthday CityGlider Bus service!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers highlights the CityGlider's first 'birthday' and rider-ship numbers.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Brisbane CityGlider is now one year old (1). Just one year ago, hardly anybody was catching a bus down Montague Road West End, which had extremely poor patronage due to an infrequent and slow all stops 192 bus service. While it would have been tempting to blame density,  car-loving or more industrial land uses in the area for low patronage of bus services in the area prior to the arrival of the CityGlider, the success of the Brisbane CityGlider in what was previously a public transport waste land highlights how effective a fundamental decent frequency, legibility, connectivity and speed are in attracting riders."

"In particular, the speed and the frequency are absolutely critical. These are lessons that we would like to see applied to the train network and other bus routes that travel on arterial roads."

"RAIL Back on Track would like to see similar changes made to the BUZ 199 which is Brisbane's busiest bus route. There is an urgent need for higher capacity vehicles, an extension of peak hour frequency further into the off-peak (possibly every 10 minutes all day), a faster journey time and possibly all door boarding on this route. People are being left behind in peak hour and the journey time could be faster if there wasn't so many stops or if there were priority treatments along the route."

"We commend the Brisbane City Council and TransLink for the CityGlider service. The patronage on the service is very good indeed. It goes to show that if you provide a decent quality 'transit product' you'll get more customers and they will be happy to pay for the service."

"Happy Birthday CityGlider!"

"As RAIL Back on Track has always said, services must be frequent. Bottom line!"

Reference:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3441.msg24680#msg24680

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3441.0

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
11/04/2011

CityGlider turns one

CityGlider, the West End-Teneriffe bus link, has marked its first birthday after carrying more than 1.5 million passengers in its first year.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said CityGlider had carried an average of more than 31,000 passengers each week.

"This 24-hour service has been popular among inner city residents helping them get home after a night out in West End, the Valley or the City," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"CityGlider is Brisbane's 12th high-frequency bus route and it also links commuters with river and train services.

"The Bligh Government will be rolling out more of these high-frequency services as part of our commitment to add an extra 305,000 weekly seats across the TransLink network this year.

"CityGlider is yet another way this Government is tackling Brisbane's inner city traffic congestion by taking more cars off the roads.

"We're commited to delivering more frequent and reliable public transport to make travel easier in Brisbane's suburbs.

"With go card use at record levels, customers can also expect faster and more reliable bus trips due to less boarding time."

Ms Palaszczuk said CityGlider was introduced last April to provide high frequency buses every five minutes in peak and every 10-15 minutes in off-peak.

CityGlider runs from the West End ferry terminal via Montague Road, Mollison Road and Melbourne Street, crossing the Brisbane River over the Victoria Bridge and travelling through the CBD and Fortitude Valley along Wickham and Ann streets to the Teneriffe ferry terminal.

CityGlider is a $5 million a year service jointly funded by the State Government and Brisbane City Council.

TransLink carried a record 181.8 million passengers last year with 77 million passengers on Brisbane buses.