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72 comments on A Public Transport And Green City Manifesto For The Federal Election
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Well, the tech solution gives people jobs, too. Presumably all those machines don't spontaneously form themselves from broken toasters and old photocopiers sitting in landfill.
But I prefer solutions which solve several problems at once. "Smartcard" only solves the "we need jobs" problem, whereas "conductors" solves the "we need jobs" problem, and the "how do we get good service to attract patrons?" problem, and the "how do we stop fare evasion?" problem, and so on.
I have 24 years of experience in public transit in the USA. I learned that money from the taxpayers for buses, buildings, and other capital equipment was readily available but money for operations (wages, fuel, spare parts, etc) was like getting blood from a stone. The other thing I learned was from a taxpayer's perspective the most expensive piece of equipment on the bus was the farebox. Operating costs per passenger would drop significantly if bus fares were eliminated. In the situation we had in Grand Rapids, Michigan it would of required only a 50 cent per week increase per person in our service area to eliminate fares. The evidence was there in front of us that every time fares went up ridership went down. If the goal is to draw people away from using their cars then eliminating transit fares is the way to go.
Pre-K, the Riverfront Streetcar Line in New Orleans was operating at 95% to 103% of operating costs from the farebox + ad revenue (on the sides of the streetcars).
St. Charles (with 1923/24 rolling stock) was about 80%, and Canal was about 100% (data was not fully available for a complete year, but that was the trend when Katrina drowned many records).
The best buses were in the mid to high 40% recovery. New Orleans could operate a streetcar for less/hour than a bus.
Best Hopes for Streetcars (trams)
Alan
Thanks Garry Glazebrook, an excellent case made for what could be done with relatively modest sums.
Does anyone have a good argument against conductors? Their demise might only be due to neoliberal prejudice against what was a well-unionised workforce, eg. Maggie Thatchers pogroms in the UK coal industry, Howards replumbing of tertiary sector in Aus.. Biggest problem i can see with bringing conductors back here in Melbourne is fitting them onto the peakhour trains.
Free-fares i don't support, as it messes with peoples ethics to give even the illusion of something for nothing. Instead maybe a combination of a compulsory regional levy (via rates or other local taxes) + a personally purchased subscription of modest but not inconsequential amount (?$20-50), giving you a 3-12month all zones ticket.