Author: PTUA
-
PT Problem of the Day: Wrong #Myki information on some trams (can they tell a bus from a tram?)
On December 29th, Melbourne became a Myki-only city. You’d hope they’d have ensured all the information posted around the system would be as accurate as possible. But this tram (number 205 if anybody from Yarra Trams is reading) got the wrong signage. It’s clearly intended to be placed in a bus. Apart from mentioning that…
-
Train, tram, bus users slugged to pay for Baillieu’s roads
7% fare rise cannot be justified, says PTUA The Baillieu Government appears to be using its predecessor’s budgeted fare hikes to help bankroll its destructive East West motorway, the Public Transport Users Association said today. The 7% fare rise takes effect today, three days after the government abolished Metcard, forcing all passengers onto the troubled…
-
Problem of the Day: No #Myki ticket sales on trams, no short term tickets at all
As of Saturday, there is no way to buy or top-up a ticket on a tram, and at present not on buses either (although it will be eventually). And on the entire Melbourne public transport network, there is no single or short term ticket available at all. This is already causing confusion for occasional users…
-
Users group welcomes reintroduction of paper tickets
The Public Transport Users Association is encouraged by the re-introduction of a conveniently priced paper ticket option as an alternative to Myki – although it will only be available to Seniors Card holders travelling on Mornington Peninsula buses. Seniors have been up in arms in recent months as it became evident that the Seniors Daily…
-
PT Problem of the Day: Flinders Street clocks – iconic, but out of date
Flinders Street is Melbourne’s busiest station, and its clocks are not just historic icons, but also informative. Unlike modern screens such as those that replaced the clocks at Elizabeth Street, they can be seen from a distance, such as from across the street. But their usefulness is limited because they are out of date: the…
-
PT Problem of the Day: Southland station needed urgently; promised at election, but still not underway
Over the weekend, car parks at major shopping centres such as Southland, were packed with Christmas shoppers. The long search for a car spot resulted in some resorting to illegal parking, such as on grass verges. It’s a reminder that there is still no funding and no announced start date for construction of Southland station.…
-
PT Problem of the Day: No ticket sales or #Myki topup on trams from Dec 29th. Will fare evasion skyrocket?
Most people would agree that preventing fare evasion is a matter of carrot and stick. The carrot is easy purchase of tickets; the stick is more consistent and regular ticket checks. Instead we’ve gone backwards — particularly on trams. When there were tram conductors, it was almost certain your ticket would be checked, and you…
-
Fares not too low
INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Anthony Albanese’s Major Cities Unit is completely wrong if it thinks Australia’s public transport fares are too low (Urban sprawl hits productivity, 4/12/2012). In fact, relative to cost of living, they are among the highest in the world. The real reason fares only cover one-quarter to one-third of the cost of the system…
-
PT Problem of the Day: Are the new #Myki gates reliable enough?
The new Myki-only gates installed at stations are certainly more informative for Myki users than the old hybrid Metcard gates. But they don’t seem any faster, and worse, they appear to suffer from reliability problems. We’ve had many sightings of individual gates going out of service, and recently some cases of entire banks of gates…
-
Break down the ‘Myki barrier’: Petition launched for single-use tickets
The Public Transport Users Association today launched an on-line petition calling on the State Government to make single-use tickets available for occasional users and tourists, and stop compulsory Myki purchase becoming a barrier to public transport use. The on-line petition, at www.mykisingles.com, calls for single-use 2-hour and daily tickets to be made available throughout Victoria…
-
Baillieu Report Card: ‘Go slow’ on public transport but foot to the floor on motorways
The Public Transport Users Association today released its report card on the Baillieu Government’s first two years, with the State Government earning a D for stalling on public transport upgrades whilst pushing expensive new roads. President Tony Morton said the government had been engaged in ‘half-hearted box-ticking’ on some public transport election promises, starting feasibility…
-
PT Problem of the Day: Cars parked in bus stops – inadequate signage and enforcement
It’s all too common to see cars parked in bus stops, which means buses to have to stop in traffic — a potential safety risk for passengers, particularly those with limited mobility, and a cause of added traffic congestion. The motorists pictured above might be oblivious to the law: if there are no Bus Zone…