I've just read a news report announcing Blacktown MP Paul Gibson's plans to provide free public transport throughout Sydney. While I'm a big fan of public transport, I think that the more pressing issue is the capacity, frequency and coverage of public transport. I've been campaigning for over 12 months to Hills Bus, my local MP (and premier) Nathan Rees, MPs in other electorates along the routes that I ride and the various ministers for public transport about over crowding of the 611 bus service from Blacktown to Macquarie. From what I've heard, this is not isolated to this particular route, but also other bus routes and train services throughout Sydney. On the other hand, I shudder every time I see a 630 bus which seems to carry an average of 4 passengers and run every 5 minutes. For the 630 and other less crowded services, I think it would be more economical and efficient to run a mini bus which would make it easier to find drivers and the larger buses could be reallocated to other routes which are more in demand.
I was recently invited to complete a survey to provide feedback on the new Epping-Chatswood rail line. Unfortunately the survey was so long that eventually my session timed out before I was able to complete, but the main points that I'd like to drive through to MPs is my dissappointment that the line does not extend all the way through to Parramatta as per the original plan. I ride on a bus along the M2 every day and I'm sure that you will already know that it's already at full capacity. What will free public transport do? It'll save me about $50 a week, so I shouldn't complain too much, but as it is the buses often pass me by because there's not even any room for me to stand in the stair well (as much as I enjoy doing so, travelling at high speeds down the motorway). Because of the traffic congestion on the M2 and the governments short-sightedness, the bus lane does not extend all the way to the M7/Abbot Road, so the buses run as slowly as the rest of the traffic for much of the way. Even if/when the bus lane is extended all the way, the capacity will be a maximum of 15,000 to 18,000 passengers per hour, compared to 30,000 to 50,000. If the ministry of transport actually asked people about their travel requirements, it might be revealed that a lot of the people currently driving on the M2 in single-occupancy vehicles travel to and from roughly the same locations - if such were the case it would be likely that adding a rail line to meet that demand would solve the problem of congestion on that roadway for ever, and it might not be any more expensive in the long term than widening and maintaing more motorway and/or tunnels.
I think that the government should also reconsider the North-West Metro (or even the Christie network) before a free public transport strategy - if you build it they will pay. If I were a labour MP at either federal or state level (where they don't seem to be too safe at all) I'd be extremely embarrassed and offended by people's reactions and the coverage following the announcement that the project will be canned because the labour MPs in the affected electorates consider their seats to be safe. Could the possibly be so naive? How many votes do you think they'd receive if people realised that they could be spending (say) 15 minutes on a train (reading the paper or having a snooze) each way to work instead of an hour in traffic (cursing the cars in front of them)? Norwest is a booming CBD and over the coming years you should expect to see a lot more people commuting to work in that direction - now is the time to act to ensure that the M2 does not become a 2-way car park swamped in exhaust fumes. I may not live in the Blacktown electorate or an electorate directly served by the North-West metro, but I do care enough that it will have a significant impact on who I will vote for (or campaign against) at future elections.
I'm not completely against the idea of saving $50 each week, but I think the government should first ensure that the public transport system will be able to handle an increase in patronage, and it won't mean that current "frequent flyers" will not be left behind waiting half an hour for the next bus because the bus (or train) they've been riding for the past several years is full of joy-riders.
On the positive side, I was recently reading that in some cities, the cost (and delay) of collecting fares out-weighed the revenue actually collected from fares, and that generally the direct costs of running the buses and trains etc are far out-weighed by the savings on public health, maintenance of motorways, policing, traffic accidents, productivity etc.
5 comments:
Paul Gibson called me in response to this post. He told me that he agrees with my point of view entirely, but despite his position is unable to do anything about it. I'm confused - isn't that his job?
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