Would you use public transport more if it was free?

[Full Noise]

Never ever… not even when hell freezes over.
I wouldn’t care if petrol was $10 a litre, I’d still drive.

Cheers, Danny

[BlueRaven]

Its a 10mins faster by train to the city than it is driving to the city with greens all the way. Peak hour traffic, add an extra hour onto that time.

The people that say they would never use public transport would think twice about it when they it takes more than 3 times as long and costs 3 times as much to drive to work each day.

[mik]

the nearest station to is about 5k in any direction, and the bus service is pretty average , so no i wouldnt be using public transport.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

The people that say they would never use public transport would think twice about it when they it takes more than 3 times as long and costs 3 times as much to drive to work each day.

I can only speak for myself here, however, I’ve never had a job in the last 18 years that I could ever get to by public transport. not everyone lives near a train line and works in the city.

Cheers, Danny

[Outbackjack]

The place I work at puts on a free bus service that picks up and drops off about 200 metres from where I live. I hate catching buses..... Who would when you have a brand new BF XR8 in tthe garage and no speed limits on the way to work......? You just cant please some people I spose.

[XA Coupsta]

Ummm......yknow you *could* drive to a train station or bus stop - park your car there...........then catch the train/bus into work. Just because you dont live on a train line or bus service still doesnt mean public transport is totally off the radar?

Does it? Might be a bit of a foreign concept for some?

So you still save money on parking, additional K's to your car (fuel, maintenance) plus keeping more cars off the roads and out of our cities......

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by XA Coupsta

Ummm......yknow you *could* drive to a train station or bus stop - park your car there...........then catch the train/bus into work. Just because you dont live on a train line or bus service still doesnt mean public transport is totally off the radar?

Does it? Might be a bit of a foreign concept for some?

So you still save money on parking, additional K's to your car (fuel, maintenance) plus keeping more cars off the roads and out of our cities......

You just don’t get it do you pal. Are you going to drive me from Wheelers Hill to Laverton at 2.30 in the morning?

[XA Coupsta]

Hey.........righto righto................it was a general observation not directed to anyone in particular Full Noise............you havent been the only one on here saying you wont/cant take public transport.

[XRated]

Nope, I effing hate it. It's a good idea though.

[YuGoStaR]

OK let me start of by saying public transport is an utter joke in Melbourne as it is, wait times and congestion on trains is ridiculous as it is. The Mx (Free paper you get on the way home at train stations) quoted the Department of Transport etc as stating that the 'unexpected' increase in people using public tranport would result in the system being unable to cope by the end of 2006.
And another thing, parking at the Train station is not as easy as it may sound, especially when 2000 people are trying to get 1000 parking spots.

I travel to Uni every day on the Sydneham line, and go through the loop. The train is packed by StAlbans, which is the third station inbound in the mornings, the frequency of trains we receive is ridiculous. I spend many days waiting much longer than I should because the train is packed when I get on at Melbourne Central, and other times because hopeless Connex cancles another train. They can manage to catch everyone without a proper ticket, but they cant make the train run on time.

Sorry about the rant, but this is a subject close to my heart, and I would just like to make it clear that I despise this public transport system.

OK off to the Asylum with me....

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by YuGoStaR

OK let me start of by saying public transport is an utter joke in Melbourne as it is, wait times and congestion on trains is ridiculous as it is. The Mx (Free paper you get on the way home at train stations) quoted the Department of Transport etc as stating that the 'unexpected' increase in people using public tranport would result in the system being unable to cope by the end of 2006.
And another thing, parking at the Train station is not as easy as it may sound, especially when 2000 people are trying to get 1000 parking spots.

I travel to Uni every day on the Sydneham line, and go through the loop. The train is packed by StAlbans, which is the third station inbound in the mornings, the frequency of trains we receive is ridiculous. I spend many days waiting much longer than I should because the train is packed when I get on at Melbourne Central, and other times because hopeless Connex cancles another train. They can manage to catch everyone without a proper ticket, but they cant make the train run on time.

Sorry about the rant, but this is a subject close to my heart, and I would just like to make it clear that I despise this public transport system.

OK off to the Asylum with me....

Its not just getting one of those hard to get parking spots either. These car parks are a super market for car thieves and vandals.

[eb_5litre]

Buses and Trains are a supermarket for thieves and vandals as well. Not to mention rapists, perverts, criminals and the odd stinky person.
As far as convenience goes.... theres no train line to speak of near my area or my work and i'd have to catch 2 buses to get there. That would turn my 20mins drive into an hour atleast.

[Bluefreak]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

You just don’t get it do you pal. Are you going to drive me from Wheelers Hill to Laverton at 2.30 in the morning?

I get it... I'm going from Ferntree Gully to Altona/Laverton... 12hr shifts in the petrochemical complex... If I caught the first train from Boronia, I'd get to work about 2 hours late, finish work and catch the train home, arrive home just in time to catch the first train back again... Except I couldn't get back to Boronia station 'cause some little punk would've stripped my car in the station parking lot...

LOL!!! Sydney trains are already packed whilst paying for it!

If it became free, more people off the road and my drive in would only take me 35 mins instead of the 2 hours it takes now.

[Kenaz]

Public transport isn't really expensive anyway.

[big_waity]

I certainly wouldn't use it, public transport here consists of a bus lapping in some random fashion. I would get sick of looking for it and give up.

[TheSneakiness]

Nope, I wouldn't.

I'd buy a moped first before I'd use public transport religiously.

[Mack 6]

Iused to spend 45-60 mins each way on a crowded bus every day to school. Hated public transport ever since. One time I did however catch a train into the city during the day (non peak hour) and I loved it... read my book and relaxed.

If i caught it now, there's 2-3 busses or trains to get from home too work. too much effort, especially during peak hour.

I'm planning to see where I working in a few months and move within 10km so I can ride the old pushie in. Much better idea.

[4.9 EF Futura]

No way. Cost isnt an issue for me.

Adelaide's public transport infrastucture falls way behind probably every other capital city in the country. For $25/week it costs to catch the bus for me, i would at least expect a seat - but always - ALWAYS - end up standing the whole way. Not even able to read a book or working papers for work. Times dont suit me either... after an 11 hour day, not really in the mood to sit around a dark part of nth terrace being harrassed by all walks of life for money/smokes. Cant get into work before 830am from where i live either. This is no good for the hours i choose to work.

$185/month for casual earlybird parking (currently on waiting lists to get permanent monthly parking and bring the cost down a bit) and prob $20 of fuel/week (10 minute drive to CBD @ 7am, 10 mintue drive home at 7pm) is worth the time/hassle/comfort saving in my opinion.

[EFFalcon]

i'd pay for it if it wasnt so crowded.

[mcflux]

I live in a place where there is a bus which travels to a town 30km away once a fortnight. You can do food/op shopping, go to centrelink, etc, for three hours, before catching the return bus. Remember, if you miss the bus, it's a fortnight until the next one!

Then again we have taxis, a mix of AUs and Avalons (Aurion Mk1?). But they're expensive & require Centrelink loans to pay for a trip to the RSL.

In other words, public transport sucks out my way. If only I could catch school buses :P I promise I won't bother the schoolgirls, Officer...

[XA Coupsta]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

No way. Cost isnt an issue for me.

Adelaide's public transport infrastucture falls way behind probably every other capital city in the country. For $25/week it costs to catch the bus for me, i would at least expect a seat - but always - ALWAYS - end up standing the whole way. Not even able to read a book or working papers for work. Times dont suit me either... after an 11 hour day, not really in the mood to sit around a dark part of nth terrace being harrassed by all walks of life for money/smokes. Cant get into work before 830am from where i live either. This is no good for the hours i choose to work.

$185/month for casual earlybird parking (currently on waiting lists to get permanent monthly parking and bring the cost down a bit) and prob $20 of fuel/week (10 minute drive to CBD @ 7am, 10 mintue drive home at 7pm) is worth the time/hassle/comfort saving in my opinion.

End of the day its your money and fair enough - you can justify spending it.

But $25 a week for public transport is a yearly cost of $1300.

Your yearly cost for using your car in parking and fuel ALONE = $3,400.

In my situation by catching public transport I dont have to own a second car. So add to that yearly figure of $3,400 a car purchase price, maintenance, rego and insurance. Any fines you might incur, accidents not necessarily your fault, etc.

Not wanting to make an example out of your particular situation - I too am surprised at just how much can be saved by public transport.

Now before I get hammered - I totally understand some people (actually a lot on this board) dont have great access nor infrastructure support for their public transport. Again - everyones situation is different - one is not better than the other. You all can choose what is best for you. Not wanting to start a war here at all.

[Redrum]

Nope, it is not safe. Too many crooks travel on it and it is not patrolled near enough.....

[JADED6]

No thanks.
Imagine the degenerates that would just hang out on trains all day, just riding the lines looking for something to do without fear of ticket inspectors.
Last time i caught public transport years ago (near midnight) there was a group of kids no older than 12 or 13max talking about who's house theyre going to and who's gonna sleep with who and what girl in the group was the loosest all while their pockets are full of woodstock cans, drunk as.

Say a bus stop is 5 mins walk away, great except you need to add the 10 mins wait required because the things are rarely on time. If they are full then there's even more wait.
Not nice in 5 degree or 40 degree heat (plus lack of air cond on S.A public transport)
Should really start a thread on "interesting public transport stories" Would be a great read.

[niko]

Originally Posted by snypereb

Not with the stuff that goes on, on public transport in melbourne lots of murders lately!!

dude are you normal?

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by XA Coupsta

Not wanting to make an example out of your particular situation - I too am surprised at just how much can be saved by public transport.

No probs at all. I agree it does seem excessive. I guess it comes down to different sets of values, right? The fact that im willing to shell out an extra $2k per annum + "other" expenses probably goes to show how just how much public transport in my area fails to meet my needs. But i guess im not the type to demand the government/service providers improve the service level to my area... i believe if you're not happy with public transport then put your money where your mouth is and find your own way to work...

I'm actually suprised at how many people have quoted safety as the primary reason for not using it if it were free? Has anyone actually been assulted on a bus/train or do you simply not want to share the same oxygen with the lowlifes of our society?

[xbgs351]

A return trip to Melbourne by train would cost me $100. Why would I catch a train?

[RavenLS1]

YES i would, but i drive my car to work, cause i cant justify the cost.its cheaper to drive my car.

[Paris Hilton]

I'd use it if the times the busses picked and dropped off were better, and the whole degenerates thing keeps me away.

[Van D]

Originally Posted by xbgs351

A return trip to Melbourne by train would cost me $100. Why would I catch a train?

..Cos it would be free? :