We examine the six-month trial of 50c fares for public transport, within the framework of Doughnut Economics. Could this be an opportunity to move towards a more sustainable, equitable future for all?
I note both ‘sides’ of politics have come out saying they will keep 50c fares because patronage has surged. Which is great on the surface. The key question is what trips has the use of public transport displaced? If the cheap fares have caused a large mode shift from active transport that is not necessarily a positive. But if the mode shift was from cars to public transport that means the trial is achieving one of its stated aims. It would be great to get public data on this aspect of the trial.
Yes, I suspect both sides are thinking more about the voting statistics. That's not a bad thing though - it suggests they've sniffed the wind and that residents do value public transport overall. But as you say, we do need much more meaningful statistics.
You raise a good point about the conversation about public transport. I’ve been a bit pessimistic about the trial but that might be changing. Over the last week or so people I know have taken their first trips on public transport for many years. Everyone knows about the trial too. The trial has generated good publicity and good discussion among Queenslanders. Let’s hope the discussion continues.
Min's observations hit the nail on the head: it's the suburbs (ie most of us) that suffer from the current inefficient routes. A great pt network, based on a grid or pseudo-grid network, would offer anywhere-to-anywhere trips needing no more than one transfer and a maximum headway (1 / frequency) of 15 minutes most of the day. What we have (as Min observed) are tortuous, inefficient legacy routes that run too infrequently. Studies show that people will walk further (up to 800 metres is often quoted) for a no-timetable-needed, well-connected route, but only half that distance for a so-so service. Better to have direct well-spaced routes on a grid than wiggly routes that try to get close to everyone, but infrequently, and then only serve the CBD.
I note both ‘sides’ of politics have come out saying they will keep 50c fares because patronage has surged. Which is great on the surface. The key question is what trips has the use of public transport displaced? If the cheap fares have caused a large mode shift from active transport that is not necessarily a positive. But if the mode shift was from cars to public transport that means the trial is achieving one of its stated aims. It would be great to get public data on this aspect of the trial.
Yes, I suspect both sides are thinking more about the voting statistics. That's not a bad thing though - it suggests they've sniffed the wind and that residents do value public transport overall. But as you say, we do need much more meaningful statistics.
You raise a good point about the conversation about public transport. I’ve been a bit pessimistic about the trial but that might be changing. Over the last week or so people I know have taken their first trips on public transport for many years. Everyone knows about the trial too. The trial has generated good publicity and good discussion among Queenslanders. Let’s hope the discussion continues.
It's up to all of us to keep the conversation going in a productive direction.
Min's observations hit the nail on the head: it's the suburbs (ie most of us) that suffer from the current inefficient routes. A great pt network, based on a grid or pseudo-grid network, would offer anywhere-to-anywhere trips needing no more than one transfer and a maximum headway (1 / frequency) of 15 minutes most of the day. What we have (as Min observed) are tortuous, inefficient legacy routes that run too infrequently. Studies show that people will walk further (up to 800 metres is often quoted) for a no-timetable-needed, well-connected route, but only half that distance for a so-so service. Better to have direct well-spaced routes on a grid than wiggly routes that try to get close to everyone, but infrequently, and then only serve the CBD.
See humantransit.org.