The Chief Minister pronounces MyWay a resounding success

> Let’s hope that the government
> starts to look at increasing the
> number of Canberrans using public transport,
> rather than just introducing new technology
> for the few who do use it.

I think this is a noble idea, but just some numbers to put this into context.

Canberra already has a declining trend in public transport use. And by their own admission, the government targets, are incredibly modest. As in best-case scenario 2016 proportions will not quite reach 1996 proportions.

Data:
Falling public transport use, by proportion.
http://i.imgur.com/RDUR6.jpg
Source, ABS http://tinyurl.com/29dbx2y

Roughly 10,000 said they used a bus, while 120,000 said they were in a car.
Source, ACT Government http://tinyurl.com/85nkq26

Targets:
http://i.imgur.com/fLceB.jpg
Source, ACT Transport Policy 2012–2031

I like MyWay, and I think the implementation has been solid. I use ACTION once in a while (and the Blue Rapid is busy at peak hours). But a sharp reduction in my expectations was my best way to avoid disappointment with local public transport usage.

PantsMan said :

How does this interact with Corbell’s war against gift vouchers?

A myway card is basically a gift voucher for bus travel…

watto23 said :

#3, parking is already a lot more than buses. The issue i personally have is transit times. For the $20 a day (based on parking, petrol, car costs etc) i could save catching buses, i can get to work in half the time at least. More likely a lot more as buses get caught in the traffic as well.

For the hour travel time I save each day by taking my own vehicle, I get paid more then I would save on the bus, especially since motorcycle parking is (still) free (for now).

How does this interact with Corbell’s war against gift vouchers?

carnardly said :

a 10 k journey that regularly takes an hour in both directions?

Gosh – would you consider grabbing a bike and a backpack and being there in under half that time?

Most people are physically capable of doing a 10 km ride. You don’t even get stinky with that distance.

Indeed I do ride most of the time. School holidays tend to offer a break from the clothing preparation and showering at work routines…

One side-effect of housing unaffordability in Canberra is the massive number of people who have moved to towns and districts outside Canberra, and commute in every day. The constant bleating about people not using buses and measures to force them to use buses ignores the fact that for thousands of commuters, there is no bus.

a 10 k journey that regularly takes an hour in both directions? Gosh – would you consider grabbing a bike and a backpack and being there in under half that time? Most people are physically capable of doing a 10 km ride. You don’t even get stinky with that distance.

#3, parking is already a lot more than buses. The issue i personally have is transit times. For the $20 a day (based on parking, petrol, car costs etc) i could save catching buses, i can get to work in half the time at least. More likely a lot more as buses get caught in the traffic as well.

So while I understand a light rail network will cost alot, i’d also settle to dedicated busways that bypass lights and traffic. On road lanes don’t work well enough for me to consider public transport.

I’d probably pay more for public transport than using a car if it got me there in there faster than a car. Hell we do that now with flying over driving. Buses take too long right now for a variety of reasons and I’m happy to pay for shorter travel times via car

Martlark said :

When the government stops pampering car commuters with huge expanses of cheap or even free parking in town centres it would start to look like it’s serious about promoting public transport.

they need to get the service working well (the carrot) before smacking people too hard with the stick. From my experience this week i’d say they have a long way to go before the system could be considered adequate rather than good

I catch the bus most days. A quick bpay every two weeks tops up the card easily. Definitely an improvement on the old system.

When the government stops pampering car commuters with huge expanses of cheap or even free parking in town centres it would start to look like it’s serious about promoting public transport.