ACTION fail again - Australia Day 2014

Maya123 said :

Are you for real? I am beginning to doubt someone could be this useless and whiney for real. Is this a wind-up? You buy a My Card like the rest of us. I bought my first one from the newsagent. It cost $20, but that was my first bus fares already loaded on the card, not an extra cost. My last bus fare cost me $2.13. I don’t get special rates. It would be the same for you. Or less if you have a disability card, etc.
I never said, (I quote you) “If you are poor, don’t have a life at all”, as well you know. Don’t be dishonest. Or are you equating drinking alcohol with having a life and fun? If you are perhaps that attitude might be contributing to your problems and being poor. When I didn’t have money I didn’t buy alcohol or bottled drinks, because I couldn’t afford it, but I still had fun. In fact more, as my mind wasn’t fogged, and what little money I did have I could save to improve my life. And an improved life is definitely more fun than thinking a life involves drinking alcohol to have fun, and whining about life.

I think wildturkeycanoe is referring to the new fees that were introduced early this year:

http://www.transport.act.gov.au/catch_a_bus/myway/buy_your_myway_card

Maya123 said :

Instant Mash said :

After spending Australia Day in Sydney and seeing how different their public transport runs on such an occasion, I agree. ACTION suck.

Depends what part of Sydney. You are probably talking about central Sydney, where most Sydney people don’t live. I have stayed with relatives in western Sydney and their bus service runs half hourly at normal times, and I imagine holidays might not be as frequent. That takes you to the railway station after meandering through the suburbs. It’s not very direct. After that it’s the long trip into town by train. My bus in Canberra is much more convenient than that.

I lived in Sydney for nine years and would never move back. I can’t afford to live where I would like to live, which is inner city and with good public transport links. So Canberra is very affordable with good public transport for my needs. At the same time, I don’t expect public transport to meet my every need.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

So much self entitlement.

Sickening.

Just as sickening as your right hand lane hogging and traffic obstruction.

Explain plz

Where did you get your license?” thread – quote, your words –
“I have said many times before on this site. Tailgate me, no matter the circumstances and I slowly, slowly, slowly drop speed. I think lowest I have got to is 30 kph until the moron understood.

Aggressive, dangerous morons.”
Short memory? If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black……

But how is any of that sickening?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

So much self entitlement.

Sickening.

Just as sickening as your right hand lane hogging and traffic obstruction.

Explain plz

Where did you get your license?” thread – quote, your words –
“I have said many times before on this site. Tailgate me, no matter the circumstances and I slowly, slowly, slowly drop speed. I think lowest I have got to is 30 kph until the moron understood.

Aggressive, dangerous morons.”
Short memory? If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black……

I’m not sure, does OP mention he catches ACTION on a regular basis?

wildturkeycanoe said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

So much self entitlement.

Sickening.

Just as sickening as your right hand lane hogging and traffic obstruction.

Explain plz

wildturkeycanoe said :

Maya123 said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Still, the bus fare would be $4.50 per adult and $2.20 per child

Where?
In Canberra my last bus fare in peak hour (a few days ago) was adult $2.13. Off-peak costs me $1.99, and it would be off peak on weekends and when you are talking about travelling. Most people travelling by bus use a My Way card like me. So if you choose to pay $4.50 that is a free choice YOU make, because you don’t have to, and most other people don’t pay what you are claiming is the cost. Most people choose to have a My Way card and pay $1.99. I believe it’s even cheaper if you are unemployed or on a disability pension, or it’s a child’s fare.
If money is tight don’t drink alcohol or even soft drinks; water is cheaper.

And getting a Myway card is cheaper how? $5 each just to purchase for adults, + $2.50 each for kids = $17.50 plus the cost of using the service [$2.25 for adults plus $1.41 per child which is one way only] is a grand total of $23.98 for one day if you don’t anticipate using the service more than a few times of the year. It wasn’t much more expensive in my first calculation thank you.
As for your last comment “If you are poor, don’t have a life at all”, that pretty much sums up the ideology of this nation and as much as it’d be nice to never ever have a good time because you are poor, eventually people snap and lash out a few days of the year in sheer desperation to have a little bit of fun. Surely you aren’t against people having fun on Australia day?

Are you for real? I am beginning to doubt someone could be this useless and whiney for real. Is this a wind-up? You buy a My Card like the rest of us. I bought my first one from the newsagent. It cost $20, but that was my first bus fares already loaded on the card, not an extra cost. My last bus fare cost me $2.13. I don’t get special rates. It would be the same for you. Or less if you have a disability card, etc.
I never said, (I quote you) “If you are poor, don’t have a life at all”, as well you know. Don’t be dishonest. Or are you equating drinking alcohol with having a life and fun? If you are perhaps that attitude might be contributing to your problems and being poor. When I didn’t have money I didn’t buy alcohol or bottled drinks, because I couldn’t afford it, but I still had fun. In fact more, as my mind wasn’t fogged, and what little money I did have I could save to improve my life. And an improved life is definitely more fun than thinking a life involves drinking alcohol to have fun, and whining about life.

Instant Mash said :

After spending Australia Day in Sydney and seeing how different their public transport runs on such an occasion, I agree. ACTION suck.

Thanks for the enlightenment, hopefully ACTION are reading this and pay attention. Interestingly, I’d like to know how free shuttle service passengers rated the half way trips and how many actually used it to get 1/2 way home.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

So much self entitlement.

Sickening.

Just as sickening as your right hand lane hogging and traffic obstruction.

Maya123 said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Still, the bus fare would be $4.50 per adult and $2.20 per child

Where?
In Canberra my last bus fare in peak hour (a few days ago) was adult $2.13. Off-peak costs me $1.99, and it would be off peak on weekends and when you are talking about travelling. Most people travelling by bus use a My Way card like me. So if you choose to pay $4.50 that is a free choice YOU make, because you don’t have to, and most other people don’t pay what you are claiming is the cost. Most people choose to have a My Way card and pay $1.99. I believe it’s even cheaper if you are unemployed or on a disability pension, or it’s a child’s fare.
If money is tight don’t drink alcohol or even soft drinks; water is cheaper.

And getting a Myway card is cheaper how? $5 each just to purchase for adults, + $2.50 each for kids = $17.50 plus the cost of using the service [$2.25 for adults plus $1.41 per child which is one way only] is a grand total of $23.98 for one day if you don’t anticipate using the service more than a few times of the year. It wasn’t much more expensive in my first calculation thank you.
As for your last comment “If you are poor, don’t have a life at all”, that pretty much sums up the ideology of this nation and as much as it’d be nice to never ever have a good time because you are poor, eventually people snap and lash out a few days of the year in sheer desperation to have a little bit of fun. Surely you aren’t against people having fun on Australia day?

Instant Mash said :

After spending Australia Day in Sydney and seeing how different their public transport runs on such an occasion, I agree. ACTION suck.

Depends what part of Sydney. You are probably talking about central Sydney, where most Sydney people don’t live. I have stayed with relatives in western Sydney and their bus service runs half hourly at normal times, and I imagine holidays might not be as frequent. That takes you to the railway station after meandering through the suburbs. It’s not very direct. After that it’s the long trip into town by train. My bus in Canberra is much more convenient than that.

wildturkeycanoe said :

I had a few at home and got the missus to drive. I’m not going to be a dumbass and risk losing my license, rather, after all the TV advertising about having a “plan B” I did the right thing and took another option. In this case it was the only option available to me, thanks to our lack luster transport systems

The “Plan B” adverts are an initiative of the NSW Government, through Transport for NSW, where, typically, yes, public transport is a viable alternative.

It’s true, ACTION does fall short of providing an acceptable level of service for a major city, but that will not change until the ACT Government takes public transport seriously, and starts providing increased funding for ACTION to provide more services, rather than money on frivolous, unnecessary things.

At this stage, even with our ‘you beaut’ 77 new buses, we will still have buses from 1992 running around in 2017 (25 y/o buses), which will pose a huge problem for fleet reliability, and increasing costs associated with maintenance. Expect more buses to break down, more often. Not to mention, we have new suburbs which remain un-serviced by ACTION for 2-3 years, and little to no new services coming online, due to financial restraints. But then again, why would the ACT Gov’t invest in public transport to attract motorists away from their cars when it is a cash cow for them, through rego and taxes…..

After spending Australia Day in Sydney and seeing how different their public transport runs on such an occasion, I agree. ACTION suck.

Maya123 said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

In Canberra my last bus fare in peak hour (a few days ago) was adult $2.13. Off-peak costs me $1.99

Correction: Apparently there has been a price rise. The $2.13 is the new off-peak fare. But still a lot less than the $4.50 claimed by wildturkeycanoe.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Still, the bus fare would be $4.50 per adult and $2.20 per child

Where?
In Canberra my last bus fare in peak hour (a few days ago) was adult $2.13. Off-peak costs me $1.99, and it would be off peak on weekends and when you are talking about travelling. Most people travelling by bus use a My Way card like me. So if you choose to pay $4.50 that is a free choice YOU make, because you don’t have to, and most other people don’t pay what you are claiming is the cost. Most people choose to have a My Way card and pay $1.99. I believe it’s even cheaper if you are unemployed or on a disability pension, or it’s a child’s fare.
If money is tight don’t drink alcohol or even soft drinks; water is cheaper.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

So much self entitlement.

Sickening.

You can’t blame him. Successive governments have been falling over themselves to tell Working Famillies how special they are. So it’s not surprising that he’s upset that everything he wants isn’t free.

wildturkeycanoe said :

gungsuperstar said :

What a stupid whinge.

Mate, you asked a question. By RA standards you got incredibly sensible and helpful advice.

So you changed your whinge!

Perhaps go through and look how this reads. You’re essentially whinging that transport should be free – you’re whinging about the cost of parking and petrol.

You’re making this whinge because, while petrol and parking is unaffordable, you want to be able to go out in public and drink alcohol!

Tell me, who is providing you your free alcohol?

The other point I’d make is that no one gives a rats about whinging because you can’t go and drink in public, further perpetuating this country’s drinking problem in front of your children.

I thought this was a highlight:

wildturkeycanoe said :

So why are there Action buses driving on any given public holiday, or major event? Why do taxi drivers have to work on Sunday night? Why does anyone have to give up their time to go to work at the local fast food place, or service station, or even give their time running the events for Australia day? Probably because they are being paid great rates!

So earlier in the thread you complained that not all Canberrans are on big PS salaries. Then in this post you accused bus drivers, cabbies and kids working in fast food of being on “great rates”.

This is the height of idiocy! After all this, I have no idea what your point is – except that you think public transport should be free just because its Australia Day, despite the fact that service providers are paying their employees double time.

I’m curious – did you lie earlier? Because this sounds like a public service whinge with a basis of public service ignorance and a hint of the broader Canberra “I know everything about everything”.

The suggestion that cabbies are on “great rates” actually leads me to suggest that you’re actually on the dole, and the whinge isn’t about bus vs car, but about bus vs alcohol.

Maybe your priority should be providing your kids an opportunity, not providing your own selfish brain with intoxicants that, based on this thread, you should be steering clear of.

I have not asked for free buses anywhere in this thread. I am trying to point out that if I’m going to pay for a bus service [be it out of need, or just because I’m a tight wad], then I’d like to be able to not just get there, but also get ALL the way to my starting point [nearest bus stop?], not half way.
FYI everyone, I did not have a drop of alcohol at the event nor did I drive. I had a few at home and got the missus to drive. I’m not going to be a dumbass and risk losing my license, rather, after all the TV advertising about having a “plan B” I did the right thing and took another option. In this case it was the only option available to me, thanks to our lack luster transport systems.
Here comes the “what about taxis…blah blah…etc.” With only $30 left in my pocket till Wednesday, that wasn’t an option. No I didn’t spend my last penny on grog, it had been saved in the fridge for the occasion. No, the car had fuel in it, I didn’t go out and fill it up just to go to the Lake.
Hope yous had fun, hopefully next year on Monday 26th January, we can anjoy these shuttle services and get home using the number 44, which arrives after 11PM.

Never been so happy to be single in all my life.

gungsuperstar said :

What a stupid whinge.

Mate, you asked a question. By RA standards you got incredibly sensible and helpful advice.

So you changed your whinge!

Perhaps go through and look how this reads. You’re essentially whinging that transport should be free – you’re whinging about the cost of parking and petrol.

You’re making this whinge because, while petrol and parking is unaffordable, you want to be able to go out in public and drink alcohol!

Tell me, who is providing you your free alcohol?

The other point I’d make is that no one gives a rats about whinging because you can’t go and drink in public, further perpetuating this country’s drinking problem in front of your children.

I thought this was a highlight:

wildturkeycanoe said :

So why are there Action buses driving on any given public holiday, or major event? Why do taxi drivers have to work on Sunday night? Why does anyone have to give up their time to go to work at the local fast food place, or service station, or even give their time running the events for Australia day? Probably because they are being paid great rates!

So earlier in the thread you complained that not all Canberrans are on big PS salaries. Then in this post you accused bus drivers, cabbies and kids working in fast food of being on “great rates”.

This is the height of idiocy! After all this, I have no idea what your point is – except that you think public transport should be free just because its Australia Day, despite the fact that service providers are paying their employees double time.

I’m curious – did you lie earlier? Because this sounds like a public service whinge with a basis of public service ignorance and a hint of the broader Canberra “I know everything about everything”.

The suggestion that cabbies are on “great rates” actually leads me to suggest that you’re actually on the dole, and the whinge isn’t about bus vs car, but about bus vs alcohol.

Maybe your priority should be providing your kids an opportunity, not providing your own selfish brain with intoxicants that, based on this thread, you should be steering clear of.

I have not asked for free buses anywhere in this thread. I am trying to point out that if I’m going to pay for a bus service [be it out of need, or just because I’m a tight wad], then I’d like to be able to not just get there, but also get ALL the way to my starting point [nearest bus stop?], not half way.
FYI everyone, I did not have a drop of alcohol at the event nor did I drive. I had a few at home and got the missus to drive. I’m not going to be a dumbass and risk losing my license, rather, after all the TV advertising about having a “plan B” I did the right thing and took another option. In this case it was the only option available to me, thanks to our lack luster transport systems.
Here comes the “what about taxis…blah blah…etc.” With only $30 left in my pocket till Wednesday, that wasn’t an option. No I didn’t spend my last penny on grog, it had been saved in the fridge for the occasion. No, the car had fuel in it, I didn’t go out and fill it up just to go to the Lake.
Hope yous had fun, hopefully next year on Monday 26th January, we can anjoy these shuttle services and get home using the number 44, which arrives after 11PM.

This is why we need @BlueRapid300 to make a return.

This sort of thing isn’t new, but being chartered services you should send an email to the event organiser who would of organised the buses. Maybe the chartered services could be extended to Kippax via a central, main road.

What a stupid whinge.

Mate, you asked a question. By RA standards you got incredibly sensible and helpful advice.

So you changed your whinge!

Perhaps go through and look how this reads. You’re essentially whinging that transport should be free – you’re whinging about the cost of parking and petrol.

You’re making this whinge because, while petrol and parking is unaffordable, you want to be able to go out in public and drink alcohol!

Tell me, who is providing you your free alcohol?

The other point I’d make is that no one gives a rats about whinging because you can’t go and drink in public, further perpetuating this country’s drinking problem in front of your children.

I thought this was a highlight:

wildturkeycanoe said :

So why are there Action buses driving on any given public holiday, or major event? Why do taxi drivers have to work on Sunday night? Why does anyone have to give up their time to go to work at the local fast food place, or service station, or even give their time running the events for Australia day? Probably because they are being paid great rates!

So earlier in the thread you complained that not all Canberrans are on big PS salaries. Then in this post you accused bus drivers, cabbies and kids working in fast food of being on “great rates”.

This is the height of idiocy! After all this, I have no idea what your point is – except that you think public transport should be free just because its Australia Day, despite the fact that service providers are paying their employees double time.

I’m curious – did you lie earlier? Because this sounds like a public service whinge with a basis of public service ignorance and a hint of the broader Canberra “I know everything about everything”.

The suggestion that cabbies are on “great rates” actually leads me to suggest that you’re actually on the dole, and the whinge isn’t about bus vs car, but about bus vs alcohol.

Maybe your priority should be providing your kids an opportunity, not providing your own selfish brain with intoxicants that, based on this thread, you should be steering clear of.

Maybe stay home, you’d only ruin it for others anyway

Sandman said :

It’s so unfair that Action drivers won’t give up their entire Australia Day in order to run a free service for your cheap inebriated arse to be delivered directly to your door. How dare they.
I suppose if it was an event you weren’t attending and Action had a full service available then you’d probably complain about the cost to taxpayers.

So why are there Action buses driving on any given public holiday, or major event? Why do taxi drivers have to work on Sunday night? Why does anyone have to give up their time to go to work at the local fast food place, or service station, or even give their time running the events for Australia day? Probably because they are being paid great rates!
At least an event that is held during weekdays gives you a way home after getting to an interchange at that time of night. As pointed out here it’s either taxi or drive, not just for me but everyone, except those who live within walking distance of an exchange.
To sum things up, these free services are a waste of time – they shouldn’t have bothered and let the poor drivers enjoy the day instead.
As for me being a whinger, yup, nailed it in one. I haven’t got much else going for me in life so suck it up.

Judging by this, and other posts, wildturkeycanoe, does seem to have a case of severe and chronic whingeitis.

Queen_of_the_Bun said :

If you’re taking the kids, why would you want to have so much to drink that you couldn’t drive home anyway?

Exactly. Assuming that if you make the effort to head out, you’ll be there at least 3 or 4 hours, there’s nothing stopping you having a couple of drinks. If you can’t stop after a couple, then it’s probably best for everyone if you do just stay home.

It’s so unfair that Action drivers won’t give up their entire Australia Day in order to run a free service for your cheap inebriated arse to be delivered directly to your door. How dare they.
I suppose if it was an event you weren’t attending and Action had a full service available then you’d probably complain about the cost to taxpayers.

wildturkeycanoe said :

c_c™ said :

Big long walk from Civic to the Lake, you mean a walk of less than 10mins at a moderate pace? Hell I’ve walked from the Triangle to Civic for lunch. No wonder over half of Australians are now overweight.

Yes, try and walk it in 10 minutes after the event along with the other expected thousands of people trying to get across that wonderfully narrow dual lane pedestrian bridge crossing over Parkes Way, whilst carrying a couple of fold up chairs, an esky bag filled with ice, drinks, warm clothes in case it’s a normal Canberra outing and the temps fall into their teens, the picnic blanket, umbrellas…..dang, it’s just not worth the effort. I think I’ll stay at home.
KB1971 – The point I am trying to make is that the post celebratory buses provide a service that only get you half way and leave you hanging. New year’s eve buses [night rider] got you all the way home, or at least close to it. The post cricket match buses got you to a bus interchange that still had services to get you home. For the government to advertise a service that only does half a job, is pretty ridiculous in my mind. It’s about the same as having free coaches ferry passengers from a sports event in Sydney back to Pheasant’s Nest and leaving them there to hitch hike back to Canberra. Yes, you have all made me aware that there are options, but all these options are a sting in the wallet that affects folks who don’t have high salary PS jobs. I don’t apologize for my rant, because few things in Canberra are free and these spectacular displays are some of the things that below average earners can appreciate. Unfortunately, our infrastructure doesn’t quite go far enough to accommodate your Joe Blow from south Tuggers, or Bill Hill from Forde. When driving your own vehicle to and from an event is cheaper than public transport, the system isn’t doing it’s job properly.

WTC – if you are making the choice to take an esky and fold-up chairs, how are they supposed to fit on the bus in the first place? Let alone a bus that not only picks you up at your door on the outer northern edge of the city and drops you exactly where you want to be?

I think it’s best you stay home, otherwise we’ll have to listen to you whinging about how crowded it was and how you couldn’t find a spot when you turned up 10 minutes before the fireworks were due to start.

If you’re taking the kids, why would you want to have so much to drink that you couldn’t drive home anyway?

Totally said :

KB1971 said :

You know Wild Turkey, when I go to the MCG, the trains don’t take me back to where I stay in Coburg, neither do the trams or buses. I have to leg it.

You would have a train from Richmond or Jolimont to the city, and a train or tram to Coburg. And they would both run until around midnight on a Sunday.

For the public transport in a major city to end at 7.30pm is pathetic.

Um yeah…..whats your point?

KB1971 said :

You know Wild Turkey, when I go to the MCG, the trains don’t take me back to where I stay in Coburg, neither do the trams or buses. I have to leg it.

You would have a train from Richmond or Jolimont to the city, and a train or tram to Coburg. And they would both run until around midnight on a Sunday.

For the public transport in a major city to end at 7.30pm is pathetic.

Genie said :

Park at the pool. It’s FREE !

Why is this an Australia Day fail? Every Sunday has the same problem. If you want to whinge about the lack of ways to get home after a few drinks. Don’t drink !

Don’t drink? How un-Australian!
If the event happened to occur on a Friday or Monday night, there wouldn’t be a problem. Sunday, bloody Sunday.

c_c™ said :

Big long walk from Civic to the Lake, you mean a walk of less than 10mins at a moderate pace? Hell I’ve walked from the Triangle to Civic for lunch. No wonder over half of Australians are now overweight.

Yes, try and walk it in 10 minutes after the event along with the other expected thousands of people trying to get across that wonderfully narrow dual lane pedestrian bridge crossing over Parkes Way, whilst carrying a couple of fold up chairs, an esky bag filled with ice, drinks, warm clothes in case it’s a normal Canberra outing and the temps fall into their teens, the picnic blanket, umbrellas…..dang, it’s just not worth the effort. I think I’ll stay at home.
KB1971 – The point I am trying to make is that the post celebratory buses provide a service that only get you half way and leave you hanging. New year’s eve buses [night rider] got you all the way home, or at least close to it. The post cricket match buses got you to a bus interchange that still had services to get you home. For the government to advertise a service that only does half a job, is pretty ridiculous in my mind. It’s about the same as having free coaches ferry passengers from a sports event in Sydney back to Pheasant’s Nest and leaving them there to hitch hike back to Canberra. Yes, you have all made me aware that there are options, but all these options are a sting in the wallet that affects folks who don’t have high salary PS jobs. I don’t apologize for my rant, because few things in Canberra are free and these spectacular displays are some of the things that below average earners can appreciate. Unfortunately, our infrastructure doesn’t quite go far enough to accommodate your Joe Blow from south Tuggers, or Bill Hill from Forde. When driving your own vehicle to and from an event is cheaper than public transport, the system isn’t doing it’s job properly.

So much self entitlement.

Sickening.

Big long walk from Civic to the Lake, you mean a walk of less than 10mins at a moderate pace? Hell I’ve walked from the Triangle to Civic for lunch. No wonder over half of Australians are now overweight.

ML-585 said :

So park in the Belconnen Park & Ride at Swanson St and catch the bus from Community Bus Station.

Free parking. Problem solved. Next.

No, no, we cant do that because we cant then have a massive whinge about our ineptitude to get to an event.

You know Wild Turkey, when I go to the MCG, the trains don’t take me back to where I stay in Coburg, neither do the trams or buses. I have to leg it.

ACTION is a public transport service, not a taxi service, which means you have to put some effort into getting to it. Pay the money for a taxi if you don’t want to drive and stop whinging.

wildturkeycanoe said :

I didn’t know about Swanson Ct, which may help a bit. Still, the bus fare would be $4.50 per adult and $2.20 per child = $15.60 to go one way, as long as the return buses are indeed free. Still have to drive home so drinking isn’t possible.
Why would you park and ride when parking at the Canberra Center is only $2 and you don’t have to pay $15 for bus travel? That $13 easily covers fuel expenses.
The taxi option doesn’t help as it would cost over $22 to get home from the Belconnen interchange.
That, plus the cost of the bus fares to get there makes it $37 for the day.
Driving is still the cheapest option, but if you didn’t have a designated driver, you’d spend your drinking money on getting there and back.

Yes, there are alternatives, but for someone who is catching public transport so they can drink at the event, the government’s bus alternatives leave you short-changed at 10 on a Sunday night.

are you sure canberra centre is $2 all day sunday? i’d check that one…

Park at the pool. It’s FREE !

Why is this an Australia Day fail? Every Sunday has the same problem. If you want to whinge about the lack of ways to get home after a few drinks. Don’t drink !

I didn’t know about Swanson Ct, which may help a bit. Still, the bus fare would be $4.50 per adult and $2.20 per child = $15.60 to go one way, as long as the return buses are indeed free. Still have to drive home so drinking isn’t possible.
Why would you park and ride when parking at the Canberra Center is only $2 and you don’t have to pay $15 for bus travel? That $13 easily covers fuel expenses.
The taxi option doesn’t help as it would cost over $22 to get home from the Belconnen interchange.
That, plus the cost of the bus fares to get there makes it $37 for the day.
Driving is still the cheapest option, but if you didn’t have a designated driver, you’d spend your drinking money on getting there and back.

Yes, there are alternatives, but for someone who is catching public transport so they can drink at the event, the government’s bus alternatives leave you short-changed at 10 on a Sunday night.

How about a taxi to and from the Belconnen interchange? Would that compare with the price of parking and still allow you to have a drink to celebrate?

So park in the Belconnen Park & Ride at Swanson St and catch the bus from Community Bus Station.

Free parking. Problem solved. Next.

Park in the carpark between Swanson Court and the Belconnen Bus Station (it’s literally right next to the station) for free. Catch bus to City (worst case – $22.50 if you pay cash, but only $11.25 if you have my way cards, cheaper again if you top up your card using bpay/autoload)

Seems pretty simple, and you can enjoy a drink or two.