Article: New CityGlider to link stadiums with entertainment precincts

[somebody]

Re: Bulimba, I'd still rather two BUZes, one via Hawthorne Rd and they other via Thynne Rd.  I have concerns that establishing a Riding Rd BUZ would mean this ideal can never be attained.

I can see what you mean, but lets look at it objectivley.

From the Bulimba roundabout to Wynnum Rd, it's 2.3km.

Its roughly at the cricket ovals that the roads start getting a decent distance apart...At miles St, the routes are about 500m apart.

However north of this, for 1km or so (Remember, these two roads are paralel for 2.3km), the two roads are only 200m apart, which means they would overlap heaps.

South of the cricket ovals, its about an 800m stretch of the two roads being 500m apart....And people in the southern part of this pocket would walk south to wynnum road instead.

It's more just annoying geography than anything, and it may well be a situation where you have to suck it up and accept that both options have disadvantages, and the network wont achieve perfection here.

What's are you saying?  That it doesn't matter much if it's Riding Rd or Hawthorne Rd?

The 'Grandfather' of the modern BT network as we know it today (also did some other regions post TL as a bit of trivia), and someone who I used to do some work with (myself and him created the current Bribie Island network), said that they did try and straighten out the 232 back in the late 90s, but the local residents (mostly elderly folk), got up in arms and were very vocal about maintaining the 232 route through Balmoral and out to Cannon Hill, so it remained.

TransLink is a statutory authority so it should be largely immune to political crap like this, which is effectively tantamount to stealing from others (massive opportunity costs).  Unfortunately TTA is very much under the government's thumb, like other bodies.

What's it being a Statutory Authority mean in practice?  That the CEO is hired by the board and the Minister can't fire them just because they feel like it, or is that not right?

[Gazza]

What's are you saying?  That it doesn't matter much if it's Riding Rd or Hawthorne Rd?

What I'm saying is that you probably cant have both in the medium term, but my preference is to use Riding Road because it pushes the catchment that little bit further back from the river.

Theres nothing along Hawthorne Rd at the moment, is there?

[somebody]

232

[somebody]

One of the funny aspects of the "Maroon Cityglider" is calling it a Cityglider when it doesn't even serve the CBD!

[Gazza]

232

Eh. I think things could be pretty much sweet if the 230 gets up. The 232 is clearly a coverage service for those who cant walk to the alternatives. Does it need to be much more than that if there is a BUZ covering the suburb?

At least the next potential Buz 'across', the 235 is in a good position, about 800m east of the 230, so the coverage areas basically just kiss each other...Good coverage!

[SurfRail]

What's it being a Statutory Authority mean in practice?  That the CEO is hired by the board and the Minister can't fire them just because they feel like it, or is that not right?

It varies, but in my mind TransLink will function better if it is set up more like the "Independent" tribunals and other bodies that have little in the way of political interference in decision-making.  TTA comes up with the best solution using an evidence based approach, and the government is then free to fund it or not.  That's what should happen, instead of only tawdry and silly things getting up in the first instance (like rockets which will probably end up in the 800 and 900 series because the other route numbers have all been consumed...)

[somebody]

What's it being a Statutory Authority mean in practice?  That the CEO is hired by the board and the Minister can't fire them just because they feel like it, or is that not right?

It varies, but in my mind TransLink will function better if it is set up more like the "Independent" tribunals and other bodies that have little in the way of political interference in decision-making.  TTA comes up with the best solution using an evidence based approach, and the government is then free to fund it or not.  That's what should happen, instead of only tawdry and silly things getting up in the first instance (like rockets which will probably end up in the 800 and 900 series because the other route numbers have all been consumed...)

The level of engagement between Translink and the public is an affront to the people IMO.  But then, it wasn't that long ago that you had a certain Premier who would say "Don't you worry about that" and be re-elected.

[SurfRail]

What's it being a Statutory Authority mean in practice?  That the CEO is hired by the board and the Minister can't fire them just because they feel like it, or is that not right?

It varies, but in my mind TransLink will function better if it is set up more like the "Independent" tribunals and other bodies that have little in the way of political interference in decision-making.  TTA comes up with the best solution using an evidence based approach, and the government is then free to fund it or not.  That's what should happen, instead of only tawdry and silly things getting up in the first instance (like rockets which will probably end up in the 800 and 900 series because the other route numbers have all been consumed...)

The level of engagement between Translink and the public is an affront to the people IMO.  But then, it wasn't that long ago that you had a certain Premier who would say "Don't you worry about that" and be re-elected.

We've come a long way.  But, in places like Canada, transit authorities have regular, structured meetings that are open to the public and don't just hide away from the light.  Even PTAG is very restricted in what can be said and what can be disseminated.

[achiruel]

232 - CUT, council cabs or similar service. for older people/those with disabilities. 
230 - move to Hawthorne Rd & BUZ
235 - perhaps not BUZ immediately, but at least upgrade to 15min peak/30 off-peak and get rid of the stupid night/weekend frequency.

230/235 via Story Bridge - NO, as it removes many interchange opportunities at 'Gabba/MH.

[somebody]

What's it being a Statutory Authority mean in practice?  That the CEO is hired by the board and the Minister can't fire them just because they feel like it, or is that not right?

It varies, but in my mind TransLink will function better if it is set up more like the "Independent" tribunals and other bodies that have little in the way of political interference in decision-making.  TTA comes up with the best solution using an evidence based approach, and the government is then free to fund it or not.  That's what should happen, instead of only tawdry and silly things getting up in the first instance (like rockets which will probably end up in the 800 and 900 series because the other route numbers have all been consumed...)

The level of engagement between Translink and the public is an affront to the people IMO.  But then, it wasn't that long ago that you had a certain Premier who would say "Don't you worry about that" and be re-elected.

We've come a long way.  But, in places like Canada, transit authorities have regular, structured meetings that are open to the public and don't just hide away from the light.  Even PTAG is very restricted in what can be said and what can be disseminated.

PTAG is also only available to a small group.  I guess they are supposed to represent the people, but still, how much can you expect from something which really only meets every 2 months or so.

[Gazza]

^And thinks that quiet carriages and the Bundamba bus stop are the most pressing issues, but locals having to leave hours early for hospital appointments due to crappy bus connections doesn't rate a mention.
Representing the people indeed.

[achiruel]

A question that was brought to me by a not very public transport literate acquaintance, if a person is waiting at say Cultural Centre or South Bank, how do they know which bus takes them to Stones Corner.  You or I might know you can take the 174, 175, 203, 204 or 222 but how does Joe Public work this out.  The problem is magnified if travelling to the Gabba - you can take 100, 110, 113, 115, 117, 124, 125, 172, 174, 175, 184, 185, 203, 204, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 230, 235 (I think I got them all).  Is there any way the PIDs can be improved to let passengers know which busway stations the next buses are stopping at?  Although in the case of Stones Corner that wouldn't help as 4 of the 5 bus routes that go there don't use the Busway Station anyhow.

[somebody]

A question that was brought to me by a not very public transport literate acquaintance, if a person is waiting at say Cultural Centre or South Bank, how do they know which bus takes them to Stones Corner.  You or I might know you can take the 174, 175, 203, 204 or 222 but how does Joe Public work this out.  The problem is magnified if travelling to the Gabba - you can take 100, 110, 113, 115, 117, 124, 125, 172, 174, 175, 184, 185, 203, 204, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 230, 235 (I think I got them all).  Is there any way the PIDs can be improved to let passengers know which busway stations the next buses are stopping at?  Although in the case of Stones Corner that wouldn't help as 4 of the 5 bus routes that go there don't use the Busway Station anyhow.

There is a chart which lists in alphabetical order the suburbs, and the routes which go to them.  Unfortunately, W'Gabba includes routes which serve Buranda! 

Not sure what is there re: Stone's Corner.  It being a "locality" it probably has the same problem.

[Gazza]

Theres also the busway network block map, which shows each stop, and a list of buses that go to it.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd February 2012

How an upgraded 230 bus and the CityCat complement each other

Greetings,

Just another reason why Bulimba should be a priority. Thynne Road could do with service improvements too.
It is interesting to note that the current West End CityGlider runs between two CityCat terminals - so why
should the Bulimba case be any different? A 230 also provides much simpler connections with the SE Busway at
Wooloongabba, Ipswich Road services and SE Busway services at Mater Hill.

Also, the 230 service is an 'exit only' service after 6:30 pm. What this means is that people can get out of Bulimba on a 230,
but can't actually get back in on a 230. Is this really world class? Passengers for route 232 must wait one hour to catch it.
Route 231 and 236 only exist for peak hour - at all other times there is no service.

How does the 'Maroon City Glider'  avoid the congestion? It doesn't use the busway - it duplicates it by travelling along Grey and Stanley Streets, in open traffic with everything else.
The busway cost over a billion dollars, and BCC's response is to add a bus to compete with it!
The Stones Corner busway extension alone cost nearly half a billion dollars and yet this does not even appear to use it.

This Maroon City Glider service won't be reducing congestion, rather it will be stuck in it!

Brisbane transport has around 220 bus routes; to eliminate interchange on these you would need to run 24,090 bus routes.
Got money for that? We didn't think so either.

This is why the basic premise behind the 'Maroon CityGlider' is flawed, apart from the fact that it is just adding to an existing
high frequency bus corridor and starving the rest of the network of much needed improvements.



Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[achiruel]

Unfortunately, W'Gabba includes routes which serve Buranda! 

Not sure what is there re: Stone's Corner.  It being a "locality" it probably has the same problem.

Well, I guess technically Buranda is in Woolloongabba, which is why I was more referring to busway station rather than suburb.

Honestly I think it would help a lot with legibility (and perhaps even reduce cost!) if a lot of those 'coverage' routes terminated at 'Gabba rather than continuing into City/Valley, e.g. 113, 117, 124, 125, 172, 203 etc.  Most of the areas these routes cover have express peak routes at times when loadings on other services might be too heavy to transfer at 'Gabba, or large parts of them are overlaid by other routes (e.g. 117/124/125, Ipswich Rd is covered by BUZ 100)

[somebody]

One of the weird things about the 117 is that the "coverage" route is actually more direct than the express route!  Unless the 110/115 are coverage express routes which would defy all logic, as it does everywhere else this occurs.

[aldonius]

The current system is like the English language - things are sort-of consistent, but it's the exception that proves the rule.

IMHO, the way to fix it is with the Core Frequent Network, by thinking of each radial route in the CFN as serving a subregion. Each CFN route number is always a multiple of ten, perhaps a multiple of five (eg 400) - EVEN if it's closely based on an existing route which isn't.

Other routes (and there shouldn't need to be very many) meander around the subregions and feed the primary route. Their numbers are related to the primary [eg 401]. These do not go to the city, except perhaps as a peak express [401X]. If the outer section of the primary route needs to run express in peak due to filling up, it also receives the X designation. Short workings for the inner section receive an S. If this happens there is one spot where the X/S changeover occurs - preferably the innermost interchange of the feeders and trunk.

Crosstown routes within a region form their own subregion for numbering purposes. Ideally, their numbers would be X9Y. Routes between regions could have two digit numbers - 9X (think GCL without the initial 5). Various busway-only or busway-and-City-only routes could also be two-digit - the 109 could become the 19, for instance. Citygliders can be 1-10.

The Brisbane area, at least, sort-of fits this schema already. To enable the X90-series routes being crosstown, I'd transfer the Gap/Ashgrove/Paddington/Bardon routes to the Brisbane West region (freeing up Brisbane North route numbers), and renumber the 160 and 162 and bump 17X, 18X and 19X routes down 10 route numbers. If necessary, 5XX series becomes exclusively Southern region (Logan) and 6XX series becomes exclusively Northern region. Ipswich takes over 8XX and Sunshine Coast 9XX. School and event runs can become 4 digit.

I've mapped out something which tries to reflect this for Brisbane North: http://g.co/maps/zpzs9

[SurfRail]

A question that was brought to me by a not very public transport literate acquaintance, if a person is waiting at say Cultural Centre or South Bank, how do they know which bus takes them to Stones Corner.  You or I might know you can take the 174, 175, 203, 204 or 222 but how does Joe Public work this out.  The problem is magnified if travelling to the Gabba - you can take 100, 110, 113, 115, 117, 124, 125, 172, 174, 175, 184, 185, 203, 204, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 230, 235 (I think I got them all).  Is there any way the PIDs can be improved to let passengers know which busway stations the next buses are stopping at?  Although in the case of Stones Corner that wouldn't help as 4 of the 5 bus routes that go there don't use the Busway Station anyhow.

Here's a wacky dude suggestion - HOW ABOUT PUTTING IN A MAP TRANSLINK? 

[#Metro]

Something more useful... $$ from re-allocation of 475 New Farm leg and 230 Bulimba

[Gazza]

Bit of an odd topology....not bad though...Just getting the 230 to the CBD is a start.

My personal preference is for James St to be linked with a Boundary Rd BUZ.

[somebody]

Correction: 470, not 475.

[newbris]

Just sent this letter to council:

<snip>

To whom it may concern,

And these are the pics I put on the last page of my letter:


...Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I am a rank amateur observer so take this as a question rather than statement. But is the diversion from the 199 route at the end of the blue glider really the main reason it works? If the maroon glider had a diversion near the end of it away from the 385 around Red Hill near the Ashgrove shops would this make it better - given the Ithaca part of Red Hill and Ashgrove has no direct service at all to CC, south bank, mater, gabba, west end etc?

I ask because I assume the blue gliders whole day success is more due to providing a really legible TUAG route through the valley, the city and southbank, three really busy areas with the glider ends (Teneriffe and Hill End) only relevant during peak maybe?

[O_128]

Just sent this letter to council:

<snip>

To whom it may concern,

And these are the pics I put on the last page of my letter:


...Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I am a rank amateur observer so take this as a question rather than statement. But is the diversion at the end of the blue glider really the main reason it works? If the maroon glider had a diversion near the end of it away from the 385 around Red Hill near the Ashgrove shops would this make it better - given the Ithaca part of Red Hill and Ashgrove has no direct service at all to south bank, mater, gabba, west end etc?

I ask because I assume the blue gliders success is more due to travelling between the valley, the city and southbank, three really busy areas with the glider ends (Teneriffe and Hill End) only relevant during peak maybe?

The city glider is pretty busy all day, I see a lot of people using it to get to bulimba. I have a friend who is moving jobs to bulimba, Living in south bank she would rather get the city glider and ferry than the dreadful and unpredictable 230

[newbris]

Just sent this letter to council:

<snip>

To whom it may concern,

And these are the pics I put on the last page of my letter:
<snip>

...Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I am a rank amateur observer so take this as a question rather than statement. But is the diversion at the end of the blue glider really the main reason it works? If the maroon glider had a diversion near the end of it away from the 385 around Red Hill near the Ashgrove shops would this make it better - given the Ithaca part of Red Hill and Ashgrove has no direct service at all to south bank, mater, gabba, west end etc?

I ask because I assume the blue gliders success is more due to travelling between the valley, the city and southbank, three really busy areas with the glider ends (Teneriffe and Hill End) only relevant during peak maybe?

The city glider is pretty busy all day, I see a lot of people using it to get to bulimba. I have a friend who is moving jobs to bulimba, Living in south bank she would rather get the city glider and ferry than the dreadful and unpredictable 230

Yeah it is pretty busy but most seem to have departed by the time it gets to HQ during the day so the city/valley run seems to be its mainstay.

The proposed Bulimba glider doesn't seem like a glider route at all to me. Too slow with the congested Wynnum Rd, too suburban along the way...more like a commuter buz route as some have suggested.

[#Metro]

I have been looking a little further into this...

Turns out that Bulimba residents did inform BCC's planning team that there were major issues with local parking and that the bus frequency was not acceptable.
Route 232 needs to be steam ironed in return for increased frequency I suggest. Cut a deal with the locals... what happened to negotiation skills?

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/2010%20Library/2009%20PDF%20and%20Docs/2.%20Planning%20and%20Building/2.2%20Local%20plans/bulimba_cpt_minutes_september09.pdf

Bulimba District Neighbourhood Plan
Community Planning Team (CPT)
Meeting 2 Minutes
Date: 10 September 2009
Time: 6.00pm to 8:10pm
Location: St Peter and Pauls Church hall,
25 Main Ave, Bulimba

Bulimba District Neighbourhood Plan Page 1 of 5
CPT Meeting 2 Minutes – 10 September 2009
Attachment 1

Access and Mobility including Public Transport
(a) Priority Items – Issues Confirmation

* Congestion along Hawthorne and Riding Rd joining Wynnum Rd and onto Lytton Rd
* Parking around Hawthorne Ferry Terminal
* Frequency of bus services especially on weekends and evenings
* More regular 230 & 235 bus services. Maybe 3 an hour instead of 2. Route 232 also

Economic Development and Oxford Street
(a) Priority Items – Issues Confirmation
•Oxford Street vibrancy eroded by cars and traffic
•Need for more commercial office space in Bulimba precinct
o Rents are forcing out existing community services, e.g. doctors and the police can't find a suitable location for a 'Police Beat'
o Business operating out of houses on Hawthorne and Riding Rd
•Parking around Oxford Street
o Business – people going elsewhere
o Residents – parking across driveways; no space for visitors
o Community open to alternative ways of thinking in regard to parking and traffic in Oxford St (e.g. shared/naked streets)
o Safer/more prominent pedestrian crossings
o Reduce speed limit
•Make Oxford Street pedestrian

[#Metro]

And from the Mass Transit Report 2007 .... incidentally written by none other than BCC and LNP councillors...

Currently Brisbane's bus network is largely radial with the majority of bus services providing
direct service to the CBD. The capacity of stations and roads within the inner city will be
exceeded if the current service structure continues through to 2026.

The Queen Street bus station and the new King George Square busway station will remove
some buses from roads in the CBD and potentially reduce the number of on-street bus stops
in the CBD. These stations could accommodate most of the current bus services from the
north and south but would exceed their capacity within a few years at current growth rates.

Although using larger capacity vehicles could reduce the number of buses in the CBD, these
vehicles are not appropriate for all routes. Articulated buses could be run on most BUZ
services but bi-articulated buses may not be suitable on all routes due to their length and
handling characteristics. Bi-articulated buses would be best operated in corridors designed
to accommodate the vehicles.

To further reduce the number of public transport vehicles entering the CBD, there is a need
to pursue an effective feeder service to line-haul and/or distributor service structure. With
this model buses are diverted to interchange with high-capacity line-haul or inner-city
distributor services, thereby reducing the number of buses entering the CBD.

[ozbob]

Media release 7 February 2012

SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Bulimba BUZ a priority



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 calls for a Bulimba BUZ.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In 2009, the residents of Bulimba raised public transport issues with Brisbane City Council's neighbourhood planning team. They complained about car congestion on Wynnum Road, Hawthorne Ferry being parked out, the frequency of all bus services needing improvement and that the cars were eroding the vibrancy of Oxford Street with people parking across driveways and excluding parking for residents' visitors (1). Parking problems have just worsened since 2009."

"RAIL Back on Track calls for the next BUZ to be the 230 to Bulimba. Thynne Road services could also be boosted as well (2, 3)."

Although there are 5 different bus routes in the area NONE of them are attractive due to a range of issues:

* Route 230 and 235 are infrequent for an inner city suburbs like Bulimba
and do not have 'clockface' timetables on the weekend. The 230 service is also an 'exit only'
service after 6:30 pm. What this means is that people can get out of Bulimba on
a 230, but can't actually get back in on a 230.

* Routes P236 and P231 only exist very briefly during the day, at all other times
they do not exist, and are therefore not useful. Are the time savings on these routes
significantly large to warrant entirely separate routes or would more 235 and 230 services suffice?

* The current 232 resembles a safari rather than a bus service. Once off Wynnum road
it drives through a maze of 28 different streets, taking 45 minutes
to get to Cannon Hill, and that is after a wait of up to one hour. Total journey time - almost
two hours!

"We suggest consideration to two, all day, frequent bus routes, one going via South Bank, and the other via Story Bridge, full time.

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

References:

1. http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/2010%20Library/2009%20PDF%20and%20Docs/2.%20Planning%20and%20Building/2.2%20Local%20plans/bulimba_cpt_minutes_september09.pdf

2. Bulimba needs more bus services says public transport advocate http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/east/bulimba-needs-more-bus-services-says-public-transport-advocate/story-fn8m0sve-1226235784817

3. BUZ = frequency and reliability- the winning formula, Alan Warren, Brisbane Transport http://www.thredbo.itls.usyd.edu.au/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[achiruel]

I'd be very interested to see update figures from that document.  Does anyone know if any are available?

[ozbob]

Lord Mayor's E-Newsletter, received today.

Looks like they are going ahead with the Maroon CityGlider, whilst most of Brisbane and SEQ languishes with poor services and limited hours of operation.  Disgusting really.

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

A Message from Graham

GQHeadshot
Announcing a new bus service, opening the Carindale library and reaching a milestone in the stabilisation of Oxley Creek are just a few of many achievements for Council over the past month.

Following the success of Council's blue CityGlider bus service which runs from Teneriffe to West End, a new maroon CityGlider will be launched later this year. This high frequency bus service will run from Paddington to Stones Corner. The route will incorporate a number of iconic cultural and sporting locations, including Suncorp Stadium, South Bank and the Gabba - making it easier for people to get to the game or show.

Brisbane residents now have access to world-class library services with the opening of the new Carindale library. Council has invested almost $2.7 million into the project which will provide its members with the latest services and technology.

As part of the Lord Mayor's Oxley Creek Taskforce, Council has been working to stabilise Oxley Creek. Council's share in this stabilisation work is now complete and marks a milestone in our commitment to reduce creek erosion and improve water quality and ecosystem health in our local waterways.
Don't forget the Brisbane City Council election will be held this month on Saturday 28 April.

With best wishes,
Graham Quirk
LORD MAYOR

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

@Team_Quirk Most of Brisbane has terrible bus services, and you roll a duplication of existing BUZs, the Maroon City Glider is a disgrace!

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

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

@Team_Quirk --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7575.msg86172#msg86172

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

Robert Dow ‏ @Robert_Dow

Compulsory reading for @Team_Quirk much higher priorities than the Maroon City Glider stunt! --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7575.0 what a waste ..

[#Metro]

 

[somebody]

Is there a source for this online?  Or at least a reference?

[ozbob]

Is there a source for this online?  Or at least a reference?

The newsletter?  --> http://bit.ly/H7jnyF

[Gazza]

Compulsory reading on new routes http://www.humantransit.org/07box.html

[ozbob]

Media release 2 April 2012

Brisbane: Lord Mayor Candidates - Scrap the Maroon CityGlider proposal!

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 calls for all Brisbane City Council Mayor candidates to scrap the Maroon CityGlider proposal and use that funding to implement improved bus services for Bulimba as part of their election platform.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In 2009, Bulimba residents told Brisbane City Council's neighbourhood planning team about car congestion on Wynnum Road, Hawthorne Ferry being parked out, the frequency of all bus services needing improvement and that the cars were eroding the vibrancy of Oxford Street with people parking across driveways and excluding parking for residents' visitors (1). It seems that no action has been taken on these concerns."

"A 'Bulimba Glider' would relieve Bulimba's major parking issues, improve access to the popular movie cinemas and a restaurant district that relies on late night trade. Current services in the Bulimba area are grossly inadequate, shameful and an embarrassment. The proposed Maroon CityGlider route between Stones Corner and Paddington is flawed because it merely duplicates existing high frequency busway services (2)."

"All Lord Mayoral candidates should download the 230/235 bus timetable from the TransLink website to see just how feeble and unconvincing claims that Bulimba is already 'well served' are (3,4). Around 7 pm on weekdays the 235 Thynne Road services become one way only, forcing passengers to do a tour of Bulimba before they can go to the city and waiting time blows out to one hour for a bus. After 6:30 pm, 230 Riding Road services to Bulimba also become one way only and waiting time blows out to one hour. On Saturday, services come once every 45 minutes. Compare this to other inner ring suburbs such as West End, Paddington or Stones Corner which already have services every 15 minutes or better. On Sunday, waits can be up to one hour and a half for services. World Class? Adequately served? Lower priority than Paddington, West End or Stones Corner? No need for upgrade? Really? We didn't think so either!"

"The 232 bus services are also terrible - driving into a maze of 28 different streets and one hour waits, the service resembles a safari tour rather than a public transport service.

"By way of analogy, if Brisbane City Council were to build a local main road that only opened once per hour, or forced drivers to drive into a maze, drive in circles depending on the time of day, was only open during peak hour or became one way 'exit only' at night motorists would be outraged. And yet this is what Bulimba public transport passengers put up with every day."

"Brisbane City Council has the power to act and listen to Bulimba residents and to scrap the Maroon CityGlider, and improve bus services for travel between Bulimba and the CBD rather than between Paddington and Stones Corner which already has access to high frequency services. Indeed, Stones Corner already has two busway stations and a train station."

"Creating a 'Bulimba Glider' would be a much better outcome for the community."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

1. http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/2010%20Library/2009%20PDF%20and%20Docs/2.%20Planning%20and%20Building/2.2%20Local%20plans/bulimba_cpt_minutes_september09.pdf

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7575.0

3. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/services-and-timetables/buses/route-230

4. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/services-and-timetables/buses/route-232

Attachment - How an upgraded 230 complements CityCat services 

[skippy]

The irony is after 100 years we finally have a 15 min rail service to Suncorp Stadium operating off peak and weekends, together with better than 15 min off-peak frequency to the 'Gabba since the SE Busway opening in 2000 with a near seamless interchange at Roma St!

[kazzac]

I WANT A BULIMBA BUZ  

If you want any proof that CC is full look at this, It will be empty if its not stopping at the actual south bank or CC stations. I am so sick of half assed bus routes. Why doesn't it continue to langlands park?

What kind of idiots are in charge of route planning?

this Maroon Glider Will anyone actually use this service?a Bulimba BUZ/Glider would have plenty of pax,I would use it to travel to cinemas/shops in Oxford street and yes there's NO room to park around there!

[kazzac]

I've just noticed on BNE City Council's website something about the new Maroon"Cityglider" service starting in next financial yr 12/13 NO it must NOT go ahead !! Where can us the people of Bulimba/Balmoral sign a petition?

[#Metro]

@ Kazza C

I guess you'd have to go online and make one or do a letterbox drop.

I'm a bit busy this week, but if you have the printing resources I'd be happy to lend a hand in distributing flyers or so. Elections are April 28th. PM me if you'd be up for it.