The Nightrider rolls for 2010

I think that this type of service should be provided throughout the year.
I’m a taxi driver and I’m sympathetic to the complaints about the cost of taxis – particular from people wanting cheaper transport home after a night out.
This will give people a choice of buses or taxis.
Those that opt for taxis do so knowing that the cost will be higher.
Unfortunately taxis have a high cost of service provision and nobody seems to want to subsidise a cheaper service.
Action gets about $60million a year from public subsidies.
No doubt Deane’s will get a fair share.

Good to see that the trial is a full 3 months this time.

I know it was Friday night & only the first night for the service, but most of the buses were empty or had just a few passengers. We need to get the word out better.

I think maybe the biggest rains in most of our memories, might have put a dampener on people going out in general. In previous years when Ive caught night-rider, there was often standing room only, but still as you pointed out, passengers were often delivered almost to their doors. Excellent service.

it takes years to change perceptions. But if ever a beer coaster ad campaign would work, this is it.

AndyC said :

I’m not really sure how this can be called a trial when it has been run for the last 4 or 5 years I can remember over the Christmas period.

Previously the Nightrider service only operated for 3 weekends in December and then on New Years. This trial goes all the way until the end of February.

It would be a difficult time for ACTION and the ACT Government to get the drivers to sign up to these shifts, considering their EBA is yet to be resolved. I am under the impression it was tendered. This years Nightrider is extended for the Trial (After years of cutbacks), and hopefully it can become a year round service.

I’m not really sure how this can be called a trial when it has been run for the last 4 or 5 years I can remember over the Christmas period. Oh that’s right, Labor call it a trial to appease the Greens so they could get their liquor licensing laws through, then have no obligation to continue it after this year. Obviously the Greens have short memories…

I also find it interesting that it’s being run by Deanes rather than Action. I can only assume they have done the maths and it’s cheaper to contract Deans than run the Action busses..

But it is a top idea – and one that should be run longer than just the festive season..

It’s obvious, isn’t it?

Deans is used to the drunken anti-social behavior, coming from Quangers. A bus load of pubes with a skinful is easy work for them.

Fantastic idea nad really needed! But Im in the same mind as harvyk1, why no ACTION involvement?

Excellent…

One of the big problems I have with civic is getting home at the end of the night. Taxi’s back home are expensive ($50 – $60 not uncommon) and whilst I’d never delibrately drive if I’m over the limit, there is always that niggling bit of doubt. (For the record when I’ve been pulled over at RBT’s I’ve always been under, even after a few at the local)

So for only $10 at the end of the night (basically the cost of an expensive beer) I can get someone else to drive me home. There is no way I’d risk it with driving.

Hopefully it will be a big success and will continue throughout the year.

PS it’s interesting that it’s Deanes running it and not (no)ACTION