Brisbane residents have experienced a significant decrease in bus services over the past decade, with 82,000 fewer services available due to a lack of state government funding. Brisbane City Council has raised concerns that the bus system may struggle to cope with the new 50-cent fare trial, which aims to make public transport more affordable and encourage people to use it as an alternative to driving. The council has warned that commuters could face longer wait times, fewer services, and increased congestion if the state government does not invest in improving the bus network.
The Queensland government currently fully funds bus services in other areas such as Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Gold Coast, and Moreton Bay, but only contributes just over 70 percent to Brisbane’s bus services. As a result, Brisbane City Council is the only one in the state that helps subsidize public transport, with the expenditure accounting for more than 17 percent of the city’s $4 billion budget. The LNP council is the largest local government in Australia and is advocating for increased investment in better buses and improved public transport services.
To address cost-of-living pressures and make public transport more accessible, the Miles government announced a new initiative to lower all public transport trips to 50 cents, which is considered as close to free as possible. This move is expected to save commuters $150 million by 2024-25. The state government believes that lowering fares will encourage more people to switch from driving to taking public transport, thereby reducing road congestion and emissions.
Despite public transport use remaining about 13 percent below pre-COVID levels, the state government is confident that lowering fares will attract more commuters. However, the council has raised concerns that the city’s bus network may not have the capacity to handle the anticipated increase in demand during the 50-cent fare trial, which is set to begin on August 5. This could lead to overcrowded buses, longer wait times, and an overall decrease in the quality of service for commuters.
The new campaign, “Back our Buses,” launched by Brisbane City Council aims to raise awareness about the need for increased state government funding to improve bus services in the city. The council is calling on the government to invest in better buses and infrastructure to ensure that the bus network can handle the expected increase in demand resulting from the 50-cent fare trial. By highlighting the challenges faced by the bus system and the impact of reduced services on commuters, the council hopes to pressure the government to take action and address the funding shortfall.
In conclusion, Brisbane residents have experienced a significant decline in bus services over the past decade due to a lack of state government funding. The upcoming 50-cent fare trial presents an opportunity to make public transport more affordable and encourage more people to use it as an alternative to driving. However, there are concerns that the city’s bus network may not be able to cope with the increased demand, leading to longer wait times, overcrowded buses, and worsening congestion. Brisbane City Council is advocating for increased state government funding to improve bus services and ensure that commuters have access to a reliable and effective public transport system.
