Daniel Bowen5d ago

RE: https://mastodon.social/@ptua/116244189601902256

The Vic Greens are proposing free PT for a month. Good on them for talking about the issues, but this wouldn’t benefit the people most under pressure from petrol prices - those for whom PT doesn’t effectively serve their travel needs - especially in outer suburbs and regional areas.

Show threadDavid Penington
@danielbowen Removing public transport fares would make it economic to drive to a railway station & take the train from there. Currently public transport has a much higher additional cash cost than driving an extra 10km.
OTOH petrol prices were this high in 2022.
Mar 17 at 10:03pmWeb
Show threadJesse5d ago

@DavidPenington @danielbowen

There isn't enough parking available at train stations for that to have a significant effect.

Spending the $50m or so on running more frequent buses for a month is really the only thing that could work.

Show threadDavid Penington5d ago
@jessta I think the goal is to help some people who cannot afford petrol for their commute at these prices to save *this month* by using public transport.
That might need less parking than you are thinking of, but yes cars use vast amounts of land both moving & parked, & it makes things difficult.