Free Public Transport - An idea whose time has come : Melbourne Indymedia

The idea of free public transport is a great one. It would do away with the need to maintain or develop expensive enforcement procedures on public transport which have been ineffective and created a climate of intimidation on public transport. Its also an obvious way to attract people out of their cars which is a necessity in the Age of Climte Change.
Of course the ALP opposes the idea and is instead about to waste half a billion dollars on a "smart card" system in their obsession to be more conservative than the Liberal Party. Even Public Transport advocates such as Paul Mees has inexplicably spoken out against this idea as one which would do nothing for people living in the outer suburbs but would favour the wealthier inner city. Was as someone who yesterday paid $12.60 to get to the city and back on the train from Zone 3 I couldnt disagree more. Its a simple and great idea and the fact a mainstream paper has brought up the idea is fantastic.
It would be good if the State Greens pulled their fingers out of their butts and started to try and support and promote policies such as this - they may even win a few votes.

Visit the Sunday Age website today and take part in the online poll on the issue. At 12.00 oclock the poll was running at 88% in favour of the idea with over 1300 people voting.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-radical-idea/2006/03/04/1141191889553.html

A radical idea
By William Birnbauer
March 5, 2006
Making transport free would cost about $340 million a year. Public transport use would increase by 30 percent; congestion, pollution and road toll would decrease, and make thousands of people very happy. The government doesn't like the idea. What do you think?
WITH thousands of Commonwealth Games ticketholders set to enjoy free public transport, the question arises: Why not make it free all the time?
Free train, tram and bus rides would boost the number of trips by up to 30 per cent, ease traffic congestion, cut pollution and greenhouse gases, reduce road accidents, transform railway stations into activity and business hubs and generally make Melbourne a happier place to live, experts say.
It would cost the State Government about $400 million a year in lost revenue, but about $60 million would be saved each year by getting rid of ticketing machines. State subsidies already contribute about 60 per cent to the price of a ticket.
Former Liberal government minister Robert Maclellan pressed for the introduction of free public transport on two occasions.
He proposed that households pay between $100 and $200 a year and receive free travel for the whole family. Payments would be based on reduced council rates for people living in areas where services were minimal. Pensioners and concession cardholders would get a rate rebate and business payments would be tax deductible.
"The benefit would be that the person driving the car in front of you would be on public transport," Mr Maclellan said.
Mr Maclellan made a detailed submission to cabinet's budget expenditure review committee when he was planning minister under Jeff Kennett, and an earlier proposal to Treasury officials in the Hamer government.
He said the proposals were shot down by arguments that more people would use the system and additional rolling stock would have to be provided.
Former premier Jeff Kennett recalls he liked the simplicity of the idea but felt passengers should pay something for transport services.
"I argued for a single coin ($1 or $2) system at the time of the new ticketing system," he said. "My biggest regret in public life is I didn't stick to that gut feeling of what was good for the system."
But Victoria's Transport Minister Peter Batchelor doesn't like the idea, saying that increased subsidies to public transport would have to be borne by taxpayers who did not use the system.
The Opposition's spokesman, Terry Mulder said: "We haven't had that discussion and are still in the process of developing our policy."
Associate professor Frank Fisher, however, backs free travel and wants a national Medicare-style levy introduced to pay for it. He believes more people would use public transport if they knew they were paying a levy for it.
Professor Fisher, who taught environmental science for three decades and is now director of The Understandascope at the Monash Science Centre, said cars alienated people, while public transport led to "people bumping into each other". Railway stations could be "disarmed" and converted into community and commercial use instead of being targets for vandals.
Transport planner and former policy adviser to the state Opposition, Lawrence Seyers supports a congestion charge for inner Melbourne with the proceeds going to public transport.
He said in a recent submission: "Those who suggest a free or heavily subsidised fare is financially unsustainable — well, so is operating buses with only four passengers on them."
The Bus Association of Victoria, which represents 26 companies, believes free transport would attract more passengers and says it would consider such a scheme. Serious money would be needed to pay for new buses, but "we would support anything that led to providing more bus services to Melburnians," the association's marketing manager, Russell Coffey, said.
Connex carries 50 per cent of all public transport users and receives an average subsidy of $345 million a year, but declined to comment.
Yarra Trams receives $112 million a year, but a spokesman said it did not have a view on the debate.
Critics of free public transport say it would have minimal impact on congestion and would lead to severe overcrowding unless more money was spent on rolling stock. Public transport advocates say the priority should be to expand services to areas such as Rowville and Doncaster and improve the reliability and frequency of services.
The State Government is committed to having 20 per cent of trips on public transport by 2020 — equal to between double and three times the current number.
with Jason Dowling
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-radical-idea/2006/03/04/1141191889553.html?page=2

SUNDAY AGE EDITORIAL
Just what our ailing public transport needs
March 5, 2006
It'S A rare issue that can unite transport bureaucrats and public transport advocates, but a call for free travel on Melbourne's rail, tram and bus systems has done it. The idea is not new - Robert Maclellan, a minister in the Hamer and Kennett governments, has twice floated the idea - but it has been raised again by a Monash University academic, Frank Fisher. Associate Professor Fisher argues that making public transport free would be the best way of encouraging more people to use it, and therefore of reducing congestion on Melbourne's increasingly car-clogged roads, too.
His colleague at Monash, Professor Graham Currie, concedes that free travel could boost patronage on public transport by up to 30 per cent, but doubts that this would greatly reduce traffic congestion because public transport's share of all travel would still only rise by 1 per cent. Bernie Carolan, chief executive of the Metlink ticketing system, believes that the key to making public transport more attractive is making services more frequent and reliable, not making them free. And, long-time public transport advocate Paul Mees objects that a free system would be inequitable. According to Professor Mees, it would chiefly benefit residents of areas that are already well-serviced by public transport, whereas people who live in the poorly serviced, less affluent outer suburbs would gain little.
All three men make reasonable points, based on the existing defects in Melbourne's transport system. The outer suburbs are badly serviced by trains and connecting buses, making people dependent on cars and the ever-expanding freeway network. The privatisation of rail and tram services has been a costly mistake, with a single rail operator and a single tram operator each dependent on substantial public subsidies. Rail services, in particular, are still subject to too many delays and cancellations, and a reluctance to replenish rolling stock. The Sunday Age believes that until rail and tram services are restored to public ownership, these problems are unlikely to be resolved.
But what such considerations show is not that a free public transport system is unfeasible or irresponsible. Instead they are a reminder that any solution to Melbourne's transport woes must be based on an integral strategy for the metropolitan region, one that extends access to public transport and makes it attractive to use. Under such a strategy, abolition of passenger charges need not have the consequences that its critics fear. On the contrary, it would create the context in which Associate Professor Fisher's predictions could be fulfilled.
Would a free system be affordable? The $380 million required could be raised in several ways: by a London-type congestion tax on cars entering the CBD; by a Medicare-style national levy, as proposed by Associate Professor Fisher; or by a rate levied on households and businesses, as Mr Maclellan suggested, with rebates for concession-card holders and tax deductibility for businesses. Or some combination of these measures. The introduction of free public transport would be a bold move, requiring careful planning. Boldness will be required, however, if Melburnians are to be given real incentives to leave their cars at home, and travel by train, tram or bus instead.

Catching public transport today is a bit like watching "free to air" commercial Tv. I agree that making "public transport" FREE is a good idea but you must have to realize that we are paying for it with our dreams!
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(from the other thread)

"I sometimes wonder how much it would cost to get a tram painted up in anarchist logo's and graffiti tags.

Last time I had to get on one all painted up like the ANZ Bank. Those war profiteers.

Besides the point that Yarra Trams are owned by the Transfield corporation who make weaponry for Indonesia and Israel, that was just another lesson in conformity.

So I didn't pay."
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I would like to know what the profits of all this advertising are, and how many trees it takes to change the illuminated tramstop advertising all over the city week after week.

Would it be worth a few bucks to not have your brain infested with corporate logo's and sexualized images of consumption on a daily basis?

Its about time too to return the tram conductors, railway station assistants & Guards onto trains.
Not to "collect fares"
but to do health 7 safety make sure people alight and ride okay.
With stalls selling papers and drinks etc again while trains run
the bicycle & carparks would be safer at night and watched during day too.
How hard is that to imagine, to implement not all that difficult either
REALLY!
The need to construct more train and tram lines is not been seriously undertaken since the 1950s also for bridges and tunnels to reduce railway crossings with streets is also very long overdue.

Current busses could be halved in size, switch over to gas and electricity and service made twice as frequent to allow greater manouvreability of those off tram and train lines.

That is just the bleeding obvious if we apply our collective passenger community and worker controlled needs with modern technology instead of for profits what a really wonderful & liveable City tis could become. More people out and about stations as social centres etc.

As IF..!! There is no way they would do that. The story all over Sunday The Age looked like a beat-up to me. Think about it.

Election promises with no election. The dictators of industry. want a bit of that political celebratory bullshit.

Free public transport...here are my thoughts...
Andrew Morgan (advantage@ocean.com.au)

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Tue, 07 Oct 1997 18:00:42 +1000
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With a wave of reports regarding the demise of Melbourne's public transport reputation, in efficiency, cost and customer service, it is time an alternative method of running the PTC was introduced. Here is my suggestion:
http://www.railpage.org.au/ausrail/97oct/0086.html

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Not only looks like a beat-up but a Rip Off from nearly 10 years ago.

Many trains are now full well before they arrive in the city. Making PT free will make it impossible for most people to catch a train in peak hour. Because trains run across roads with crossings the Melbourne Train network is in a stalemate situation. It seems that on most lines trains are at capacity, can't increase the number of trains but there will be a constant increase in service demand. Violence on PT is increasing too, making it free will make it more dangerous.

Be Realistic !
by Demand the impossible! Monday March 06, 2006 at 02:25 PM

Why is free public transport so "impossible" ? Really, if we want it we can get it it is as simple as that, the powerful are only so because we are on our knees, collaborating with the Authorities, the cops in our heads keeping the cops on the beat, on the beat beating any dissidents and Blacks and homeles and recent migrants etc any "minority" ignored by the majority who accept the blame pattern manufactured by the media.
Surely on Indymedia we can expect some imagination not conformism to the "oh all resistance is futile" just "love little Big Brother Howard".
Socialism from below community and worker take over of education, housing, medicine, transport has happened before and will when the situation is made happen again. The least we can do is celebrate the vision that a new world is not only possible, but desirable and we can each work towards bring it about where ever we live and work or study etc.
Free transport bring it on as soon as possible rather than await elections and socialism from above via the ALP (unlikely!).

I'm finding it difficult to take the Free PT issue raised in The AGE seriousely. Even though it was front page "news" plus an editorial I thought it looked like PR. It had no real answers and left a lot of important questions about sustainability untouched. That is how advertising for Connex and Yarra Trams seems to work, a pretty basic formula...

I found an anteresting and well researched article on the subject of sustainable public transportation.
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The Public Relations Assault on Transport Sustainability

ABSTRACT

The successful development of sustainable transport solutions requires that environmental problems and their causes are recognised, that sufficient funding is provided to solve these problems and that solutions are then adopted and widely implemented. However public relations strategies and techniques can interfere with these requirements and therefore impede the development and implementation of these solutions. Public relations strategies are often used to hide or downplay environmental problems such as global warming, to confuse the cause of the problems and downplay the problems caused by motor vehicles, and to provide perceptual rather than real solutions to environmental problems. They encourage a minimal response and avoid the paradigm changes necessary for transport innovations.

Keywords: transport sustainability, public relations, motor vehicles, sports utility vehicles, global warming, fuel efficiency
http://users.bigpond.net.au/heri/sbeder/transport.html

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In 1998, Transfield Services formed a joint venture with Transdev to operate and manage Yarra Trams in Melbourne.
http://www.transfieldservices.com/about_us/joint_ventures.htm
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Transfield earnings soar 48pc
From: AAP

February 22, 2006

TRANSFIELD Services expects a stronger second half of 2005-06 as the company reported a strong rise in first half net profit and reorganized its infrastructure investments.
The industrial services company reported a 20 per cent rise in net profit to $24.1 million for the six months ended December 31, 2005.

Transfield (tse.ASX:Quote,News) reported revenue of $939 million, an increase of 48.4 per cent on the prior comparable period.

The board declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 11 cents, up from nine cents in the previous first half.

Transfield shares were down 40 cents or 5.2 per cent to $7.25 at 1201 AEDT.

Transfield managing director Peter Watson said the board had approved the reorganistion of the company's infrastructure assets into a single wholly owned subsidiary, as well as refinancing of $450 million of project finance debt into a single corporate facility.

"Infrastructure investments are a core part of Transfield Services (tse.ASX:Quote,News) growth and the restructuring will provide flexibility for future growth," he said.

"The company has significant funding capacity for further investments in its Services and Infrastructure businesses.

"We are pleased with our first half contribution and look forward to a traditionally stronger contribution for the second half."

The infrastructure investments business reported an 87.6 per cent rise in earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) to $19.7 million while the services division had EBITA rise 46.9 per cent to $30.7 million.

Transfield also announced the purchase of project management consultancy APP.

"This acquisition is in line with out growth strategy – APP provides geographic and industry expansion as well as enhancing our project management capabilities," Mr Watson said.

He said Tranfield's international strategy has been building with the New Zealand business performing well in the last half with revenue more than doubling to $204 million.

"International expansion is another key building block for the company's growth. In the last six months we have significantly strengthened our management teams in New Zealand and the Gulf Region where we are perusing a number of opportunities," said Mr Watson.

He said the company is also investigating new business opportunities in Malaysia.

Mr Watson said current work-in-hand was at record levels at $7.6 billion.

http://www.finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18234865-462,00.html?from=rss

In 1998, Transfield Services formed a joint venture with Transdev to operate and manage Yarra Trams in Melbourne.
http://www.transfieldservices.com/about_us/joint_ventures.htm

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Lockheed EC-130V Hercules
Lockheed Martin have teamed with Northrop Grumman (ESID) and Transfield Defence Systems of Australia for the C-130J AEW&C.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ec-130v.htm
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The Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel Bronwyn Bishop today announced Transfield Defence Systems Pty Ltd as the preferred tenderer for logistic and base support services in the Albury Wodonga Military Area (AWMA).
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/1997/10097.html
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A similar bid by Thales five years ago to buy out Transfield was blocked because of security issues, the Australian newspaper reported today. French ownership of an Australian company involved in ``sensitive'' defense projects involving U.S. military technology may again raise security concerns, it said, citing Ross Babbage, a defense analyst.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000081&refer=australia&sid=a5sz4RPHKm24
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The critics of this idea seem to be suggesting becuase the ideas was promoted by the Age - it must be a bad one. Of course the mainstream press is full of crap but that doesnt mean that every now and again a good idea doesnt sneak through the cracks. Whats the converse of this approach - an idea is raised in the alternative press so it must be a good one!
Of course free public transport is realistic - it would only cost a few hundred million dollars a year which is a fraction of the road budget. It should also not be put in opposition to spending more on expanding the system - how is expansion and making it free counterposed?
The logic that attracting more people to public transport is a bad one because trains will be more crowded is a cracker. Sadly its actually been stated by the current Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor. I have a wacky solution - put on more trains.
Saying it would no impact on public transport usage is also crazy - its like saying that making all roads tolled roads wouldnt reduce traffic. The PTUA is being ridiculous by stating that the cost of public transport isnt a disincentive to use. For me and my partner to travel into the CDB for a day from Zone 4 costs almost $25 - far more than the cost of petrol. Again why are they counterposing making it free with increasing services? They state that the $300 million forsaken in fairs would be better used on increasing services. How about they look at the whole transport funding pie and state that that money would more than be made up for by cutting the billions - yes billions we are spending on new freeways.
As for trains being powered by coal powered electricity - thats true currently. Firstly - even coal powered trains and trams are a more environmentally efficient form of mass transit than the private car. Secondly - why counterpose free public transport with changes to planning that would encourage more walking, cycling and people living closer to their places of work. Thirdly - eventually the plan would be to power public transit by more renewable and benign forms of electricity generation - in the context of better planning and massively reduced private car ownership.
Its not rocket science. Frankly I am confused that position of people on this site and the PTUA who have critisized this idea. The idea of free public transport is a good - commonsense way we can start to change our damaging transport habits. People who consider themselves environmentalists or radical should be embracing this idea and joining with anyone who is prepared to support it.

Yes, Zone 3, I agree that free public transport is a very good idea - in tinseltown! The story on the front page of the age just added a little magic fairy dust to that fantasy.

Good PR for PRIVATE corporations and commuter confidence is all it was.

I am a 16 year old student who uses the public bus maybe 3-4 times a week and the trains once a fortnight...
After reading the articles on this issue, I can only see positives. The only negative I can see is that it will cost 300-400 milion dollars, but thats nothing. If the government can aford to cash out 1.1 billion for the commonwealth games, then surely it can afford a lousy 300 million a year for something that helps us the people and will reduce pollution.
Even if you don't use public transport, the needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few.

I fully support this fabulous move, thought up by some of Melbournes top minds. I can imagine a day, where I, and others like me are able to have a nice warm place to sleep during the day.

hi...........

i agree with the free PT scheme though it may arouse violence against the public e.g. trams, trains becoming over crowded and therefore public fights occur. but hey, thats what the cops are there for, isn't it?? if some fools just want to start a fight because they cant be bothered to wait another 5-10 minutes for the next PT to pass by, then its up to them i guess...

this can still have its benefits. free train, tram and bus rides would boost the number of trips by up to 30 per cent and generally make Melbourne a happier place to live.

A point to enforce this act is that, if public transport were free, it would encourage citizens to use public transport more, therefore reducing pollution. As we are all aware, pollution is a major threat towards the Earth. Less pollution means less dark clouds, acid rain, greenhouse gas emissions and toxic waste. The world as we no it, is altering, from a beautiful forest full earth, to a pollution infused hell hole.

It’s also an obvious way to attract people out of their cars, which is a necessity in the age of climate change. The point is to enforce traffic and road raged car crashes are reduced. With fewer cars (traffic), then the roads will be almost free of road raged car crashes. Roads may become safer and with that fewer deaths will be on count due to fewer cars on the road.

i hope this helps towards the what seems to be an ongoing decision making process... if there even is one......

thanks,
surf the coost

i agree...

your mum should get free public transport...

sorry if this offened anyone... i feel for you all...

surf the coost!!!