Author: PTUA

  • Fares discussion welcome, but better service is still the main game

    The Public Transport Users Association has welcomed the conversation on public transport fare reform sparked by the release of a new Infrastructure Victoria report “Fair Move: Better Public Transport Fares for Melbourne“. But PTUA President Dr Tony Morton said many of the proposed measures, like off-peak discounting, would only work properly in the context of…

    Fares discussion welcome, but better service is still the main game
  • COVID-19 smashes the life from cities, which is why we must smash COVID-19

    by Tony Morton As COVID-19’s second waves wash over our technologically advanced civilisation, so follows the commentary on what this pandemic means for cities and for daily life in the future. Public transport sits at the heart of the discourse, and for good reason. In normal times, public transport sustains the life of the world’s…

    COVID-19 smashes the life from cities, which is why we must smash COVID-19
  • PTUA concerned on curfew cuts

    Trams and trains on a Saturday timetable every day would be a far better outcome for passengers compared to the situation we have now.

    PTUA concerned on curfew cuts
  • PTUA welcomes additional services

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has applauded the additional train and tram services announced on Friday by the Victorian Government. “These changes are very welcome”, said PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen. “Train service frequencies drop off outside peak hours, resulting in long wait times and – under normal circumstances – crowding. “We have been concerned…

    PTUA welcomes additional services
  • COVID-19: Public transport timetable boost needed to help stagger trips

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called on the State Government to boost public transport services across the day as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. A PTUA analysis of train timetables found that on some lines, services and capacity dropped by two-thirds outside peak hour. PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen said that as people…

    COVID-19: Public transport timetable boost needed to help stagger trips
  • Australia must ‘move on’ from freeway fantasy, not High Speed Rail

    In response to the Grattan Institute’s calls for Australia to ‘move on’ from High Speed Rail, the Public Transport Users Association notes the limitations of their analysis, and calls for urban megaroads projects to receive the same level of scrutiny. Evidence has shown again and again that urban motorways induce more traffic, rather than “busting”…

    Australia must ‘move on’ from freeway fantasy, not High Speed Rail
  • Transport for Everyone: Post COVID-19 Recovery – New vision for buses

    (Media release from Transport For Everyone) Key transport professionals have jointly written to the Victorian Premier urging the Government’s Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce to focus on upgrading bus services and active transport through a 5-point plan to improve mobility for Melbourne and build jobs as part of recovery from COVID-19. The 5-point plan seeks a…

    Transport for Everyone: Post COVID-19 Recovery – New vision for buses
  • Membership offer – Join PTUA for a year for the cost of a week of Myki

    Swapped your Myki for video meetings? For the same cost as a week of Myki, you can join the PTUA for a year! Support the campaign for better public transport for just $45. Click here to join now PTUA regular annual membership is discounted to $45 for a year – the same as a weekly…

    Membership offer – Join PTUA for a year for the cost of a week of Myki
  • Infrastructure Victoria misses the bus on public transport pricing

    A report on transport pricing by Infrastructure Victoria contains some potentially valuable suggestions on pricing of roads and parking, but is breathtakingly naive in its approach to public transport fares. As part of a comprehensive suite of measures to ‘rationalise’ the pricing of transport in Victoria, the IV report proposes scrapping the Myki zone system…

    Infrastructure Victoria misses the bus on public transport pricing
  • Myki Passes now able to be paused

    Following our approach to the State Government, PTV have advised us today that they can now pause your Myki Pass. By pausing a Myki Pass, any remaining travel days will be ready for use when you are ready to get back onto public transport. This applies to both Commuter Club (through PTUA or other organisations)…

    Myki Passes now able to be paused
  • COVID-19

    Please note that due to COVID-19 the PTUA is not running member meetings for the moment. There may also be a delay in processing paper membership forms and other correspondence, as our volunteers may not be attending the office during this period. Members wishing to renew are encouraged to do so online. Commuter Club /…

    COVID-19
  • Planning confusion sells Melbourne’s west, air travellers short

    Statement by the Public Transport Users Association The Public Transport Users Association is concerned at recent commentary on new rail developments in Melbourne’s west, specifically the promised rail link to Melbourne Airport, and the implied pressure to rush into major decisions in the absence of a comprehensive plan for public transport development. At a high…

    Planning confusion sells Melbourne’s west, air travellers short