The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand | Don’t miss the bus, Mr Rudd

4 comments on Don’t miss the bus, Mr Rudd

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LeftyfromQueensland on July 18, 2008 - 5:13pm

I'm all for it. I hope the author realizes that there is a very large Queensland beyond the southeast corner though, where access to public transport does not exist at all in many cases.

Queensland has the most decentralised population of all the states I believe, with as many people living outside the main metropolitan area as in it. Most of these are concentrated in centres along the east coast from the sunshine coast to Cairns.

Let's not forget the regions. They provide the resources and produce that is the states prosperity.

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thirra on July 18, 2008 - 7:01pm

As a resident in the SE about 100 km from Brisbane I can vouch for the paucity of public transport in my area.One bus/day to and from the closest rail(50km).Without a motor vehicle life becomes very difficult.
I don't know the solution to this problem as providing frequent services to a lot of areas is just not economical because of low passenger numbers.
Regarding the Brisbane metro area I support the articles recommendations.Brisbane has the basis of a public transport network but it is mainly radial in design.When you need to get to places off the spoke of the wheel that you are on it becomes very time consuming at the very least.
Brisbane also needs more bike paths in a linked network.Getting somewhere in Brisbane on a bike requires dicing it with traffic quite frequently.
Re tunnels etc - The current BCC is quite mad in this respect and it is being supported by the state government.

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LeftyfromQueensland on July 18, 2008 - 7:42pm

Yeah, I hear you thirra.

We have spent decades building up infrastructure to service private vehicle transport. Mass transport infrastructure (electric rail) is either inadequate or non-existent. There is scope for great improvemnt within the major cities themselves but less scope for justifying the expense in areas where the population is more dispersed.

If Australians were willing to forgo some more of their income in tax, government might be able to continually raise enough capital to implement and run effective public transport systems in areas where it is currently considered unviable. Sadly, many voters believe that they get ahead when across the board tax cuts deliver them enough for an extra carton of piss - they would rather that than willingly put more into a kitty for improved public services.

But hey, this might change in time.

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SthPacific on July 19, 2008 - 5:08am

“The Federal government’s urban transport priority must be to create a public transport system that takes people where they need to go, when they need to be there.

Mybe we need to change where they need to go and when they need to be there too.

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