AN INVITATION TO YOU
On Saturday, June 20, a Symposium is going to be held to discuss the possibility of forming an organisation to promote the interests of public transport users in Western Sydney.
It will be an opportunity to meet with experienced public transport advocates, transport experts, academics and other people who want to help advocate for a better public transport system.
Would you like to help improve public transport in your area? Can we create a voice for public transport users in Western Sydney? Would you like to be a part of this? Email Hugh or Paul at wsbustop@gmail.com or phone 9687 9669.
Alternatively it would be great if you could do the survey on the left of this blog and leave us your email address so we can contact you.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Western Sydney Community Forum Advocates For Public Transport In Western Sydney - Not The Rozelle Metro
Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF) is a peak body for the community services sector in Western Sydney. This week WSCF released a statement advocating for a sustainable, integrated transport plan for Greater Sydney and the abandonment of the proposed Rozelle Metro project. If this hugely expensive project proceeds it will burn up the transport infrastructure budget and postpone the development of rail-based transport infrastructure for Western Sydney for decades. Click here to see the full release.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Bus Users In Liverpool Need To Poo Too
New YouTube Video Presentation
George Smith from the Liverpool Transport Taskforce tells us about the campaign to get a toilet for bus users at the Liverpool Interchange and Reporter Rosy Bottom interviews people about their experiences at the Interchange and the need for a toilet there.
George Smith from the Liverpool Transport Taskforce tells us about the campaign to get a toilet for bus users at the Liverpool Interchange and Reporter Rosy Bottom interviews people about their experiences at the Interchange and the need for a toilet there.
Monday, March 30, 2009
PRE-PAY BUSES LEAVE CASUAL USERS IN LIMBO
Action for Public Transport (NSW)
PO Box K606 Haymarket NSW 1240
http://www.aptnsw.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE
27th March 2009
PRE-PAY BUSES LEAVE CASUAL USERS IN LIMBO
Sydney's occasional bus users and tourists will be deterred from using Sydney's buses thanks to Treasury accountants insisting on collecting every last dollar in fares, according to a transport consumer group.
"The city's buses are rapidly going Pre-Pay, which is great for speeding up buses, but it has left the infrequent users in no-mans-land," said Allan Miles, secretary of Action for Public Transport (APT).
"The Sydney fare system should be simple, and market-driven, getting as many people on public transport as possible," Mr Miles said. "Instead, we have accountants running the show, dead scared that somebody might score a free ride!"
Mr Miles said that the complicated fare section system is too difficult for visitors and ticket agents to understand. "Passengers denied entry and sent to an agent could be sold the wrong ticket," he said, "and face a penalty if confronted by an inspector." He said that ticket agents, unlike bus drivers, cannot be expected to know which bus goes to Haberfield, or what the fare is.
"A zone system as used in other cities would be much simpler for everyone," Mr Miles said, "but the government, supported by the Pricing Tribunal, clings to the nineteenth century pay-per-metre-travelled method."
Mr Miles said that alternatives such as zone fares, four-hour tickets or cheaper day tickets were shunned by government because they had "implications for revenue". "Marketing and passenger convenience are alien concepts in Treasury counting houses," he said.
From 6th April, bus passengers in the George Street corridor must have a ticket before boarding a bus at any stop between 7 am and 7 pm Monday to Friday. "APT generally supports this and other pre-pay projects," said Mr Miles, "but some of the rough edges need more attention."
Mr Miles said that many bus stops in George Street had no nearby ticket agents, or the agents were hard to find. "This must be remedied quickly," he said, "particularly at Town Hall and Railway Square."
He said that one solution would be a cheap one- or two-zone all day bus ticket. "But Treasury ears are deaf," Mr Miles said. "They fear people will abuse a cut-price ticket and take an 80 km ride to Palm Beach and back."
"In the meantime," Mr Miles said, "State Transit should promote the existing BusTripper ticket costing $12.70. Most visitors would get their money's worth after three or four rides."
"However, far from promoting it," he said, "State Transit prefers to hide the BusTripper ticket. It is not mentioned among other pre-pay tickets on the glossy George Street brochures, or on bus timetables."
"The timing of the George Street conversion is rather unfortunate," Mr Miles said, "being only three days before the start of the Royal Easter Show, when the city will be crammed with visitors from near and far."
Contact: Allan Miles 9516 1906.
Action for Public Transport (NSW)
PO Box K606
Haymarket NSW 1240
Australia
http://www.aptnsw.org.au
PO Box K606 Haymarket NSW 1240
http://www.aptnsw.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE
27th March 2009
PRE-PAY BUSES LEAVE CASUAL USERS IN LIMBO
Sydney's occasional bus users and tourists will be deterred from using Sydney's buses thanks to Treasury accountants insisting on collecting every last dollar in fares, according to a transport consumer group.
"The city's buses are rapidly going Pre-Pay, which is great for speeding up buses, but it has left the infrequent users in no-mans-land," said Allan Miles, secretary of Action for Public Transport (APT).
"The Sydney fare system should be simple, and market-driven, getting as many people on public transport as possible," Mr Miles said. "Instead, we have accountants running the show, dead scared that somebody might score a free ride!"
Mr Miles said that the complicated fare section system is too difficult for visitors and ticket agents to understand. "Passengers denied entry and sent to an agent could be sold the wrong ticket," he said, "and face a penalty if confronted by an inspector." He said that ticket agents, unlike bus drivers, cannot be expected to know which bus goes to Haberfield, or what the fare is.
"A zone system as used in other cities would be much simpler for everyone," Mr Miles said, "but the government, supported by the Pricing Tribunal, clings to the nineteenth century pay-per-metre-travelled method."
Mr Miles said that alternatives such as zone fares, four-hour tickets or cheaper day tickets were shunned by government because they had "implications for revenue". "Marketing and passenger convenience are alien concepts in Treasury counting houses," he said.
From 6th April, bus passengers in the George Street corridor must have a ticket before boarding a bus at any stop between 7 am and 7 pm Monday to Friday. "APT generally supports this and other pre-pay projects," said Mr Miles, "but some of the rough edges need more attention."
Mr Miles said that many bus stops in George Street had no nearby ticket agents, or the agents were hard to find. "This must be remedied quickly," he said, "particularly at Town Hall and Railway Square."
He said that one solution would be a cheap one- or two-zone all day bus ticket. "But Treasury ears are deaf," Mr Miles said. "They fear people will abuse a cut-price ticket and take an 80 km ride to Palm Beach and back."
"In the meantime," Mr Miles said, "State Transit should promote the existing BusTripper ticket costing $12.70. Most visitors would get their money's worth after three or four rides."
"However, far from promoting it," he said, "State Transit prefers to hide the BusTripper ticket. It is not mentioned among other pre-pay tickets on the glossy George Street brochures, or on bus timetables."
"The timing of the George Street conversion is rather unfortunate," Mr Miles said, "being only three days before the start of the Royal Easter Show, when the city will be crammed with visitors from near and far."
Contact: Allan Miles 9516 1906.
Action for Public Transport (NSW)
PO Box K606
Haymarket NSW 1240
Australia
http://www.aptnsw.org.au
Seniors welcome free travel in South Australia
National Seniors CEO Michael O’Neill said it was great news for the seniors of South Australia. “This is a great move by the Government to allow free transport to seniors and we think it’s something all State Governments should introduce,’’ he said. “The WA State Government also recently implemented a similar plan to offer free transport to WA seniors in off-peak periods so it looks like it’s gathering pace around the country.’’
O’Neill said the decision would help seniors to save money and also had environmental benefits. “It’s no secret that seniors are struggling under cost of living increases so depending on how much they travel, it could really help bring down their overall costs,’’ he said. “It will also attract more people to travel on public transport rather than in their cars, meaning fewer cars on the road which is good for the environment.’’
The move is expected to benefit around 275,000 Seniors Card holders at a cost of $10 million to the Government. Michael O’Neill is available for comment on 0448 125 898.
What are your thoughts on free travel? Maybe the NSW government might like to think about what our neighbors are doing in South Australia.
Sydney CBD Metro - What do you think?
Dear Members and supporters of WSPTU, Sydney Metro are holding some public forums on the Sydney Metro. This information has been passed to us from the 10,000 Friends of Greater Sydney (FROGS).
Sydney Metro, the NSW Government agency responsible for the new CBD Metro rail line, is keen to talk with local communities about the project.
In coming weeks, we will be holding Information Sessions at Balmain and Darling Harbour to explain more about the CBD Metro, answer questions and hear what people think.
Everyone is welcome to attend the sessions, at a time that suits them. Please feel free to pass on this invitation to your members - the dates and venues for the Information Sessions are attached.
By way of background, the CBD Metro will operate into, and across the City, from late 2015. It will be seven kilometres long, with six underground stations at Central, Town Hall Square, Martin Place, Barangaroo-Wynyard, Pyrmont and Rozelle. This line will be the ‘enabler’ to create a future metro network for Sydney.
The project is now in a detailed planning phase. The Project Application and Preliminary Environmental Assessment were recently lodged with the NSW Department of Planning. These documents and a lot of other information, is available on the Sydney Metro website, www.sydneymetro.nsw.gov.au
I look forward to meeting you at the Information Sessions.
SATURDAY 28 MARCH Balmain Town Hall – Meeting Room 9am – 2pm THURSDAY 2 APRIL Balmain Town Hall - Meeting Room 4pm – 8pm
SATURDAY 4 APRIL Terrace Room – Australian National Maritime Museum 9am – 2pm
There is no need to make an appointment to attend these information sessions, drop in at any time.
Les Wielinga
CEO
Sydney Metro
Friday, March 27, 2009
IPART Taxi Fare inquiry - Make your comments
A blog has been set up by the community sector to take comments about the taxi fare review. We want to hear about how any changes of taxi fares might effect young people, low income people and people with disabilities. Check out the blog and make your comments on the questions:
http://taxifarereview2009.blogspot.com/
http://taxifarereview2009.blogspot.com/
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