tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post1913153341150266364..comments2024-03-24T23:01:11.766+11:00Comments on Melbourne on Transit: 10 steps to 200 million: Achieving Melbourne's bus patronage target (Useful Network Part 50)Peter Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413976934040474125noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-68908799300431390842020-06-28T13:12:11.194+10:002020-06-28T13:12:11.194+10:00A good overview with great detail and insights int...A good overview with great detail and insights into the issues surrounding buses. I have to admit my experiences with buses in the Western Suburbs have been a mixed bag but it's unfortunately mostly negative. Reliability and frequency are major issues and evening buses are perceived as unsafe by some. Drivers have been cited as experiencing more conflict on evening and later services. Some efforts will need to be made to address these concerns for both drivers and passengers for extended hours services to get the chance they deserve. The need for "big picture" planning cannot be understated, we have buses that leave train stations just seconds after a train arrives making connections frustrating an inefficient. We have buses with confusing and convoluted routes and some services overlap without much apparent logic as to why. Someone needs to crack out the big data on this issue, technology is not an answer in itself but from the outside looking in our systems seem to be woefully under supported in this regard. Full disclosure, I prefer my PT on rails, despite some notable exceptions I have been able to rely upon rail a much higher percentage of the time that I have buses. In my darker moments I denounce buses as just a car on steroids, if traffic is the problem they just sit in it, trying their best but unable to make a significant difference in the face of so many dedicated motorists. That out of the way, I would support almost anything that would improve bus services but I would preference rail light or regular for the heavy lifting in moving people around. Melbourne's west is under serviced by PT in general and the packed trains (not so packed currently of course) demonstrate that the demand is real. The fix is most likely going to be long term and expensive, will a Government come along with the courage to take this issue on? I hope so, but I am not holding my breath.Gary Pollardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-14247877133662888522020-06-26T08:55:07.614+10:002020-06-26T08:55:07.614+10:00Thanks Michael. My priorities would be roughly sho...Thanks Michael. My priorities would be roughly shoulder peak (including some early evening), weekend early morning (extra span), weekday interpeak, weekend daytime then evening. On routes with lower weekend service than weekday interpeak I'd priorities weekend, especially if they go to big shopping centres etc. <br /><br />Your point about flexibility getting home is really important. People can usually plan their am trip for minimal waiting (changing from a less frequent bus to a more frequent train) but pm trips are less easily planned due to variable work finish times and train unreliability. A good opportunity would be to have all buses used in the school pm peak to go onto commuter runs from 4:30 - 7pm (or later). A broader am peak would also be welcome - again this would be better using school bus vehicles. Peter Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13413976934040474125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-77064249473790290482020-06-26T08:02:24.319+10:002020-06-26T08:02:24.319+10:00Extending services into the evening should be fair...Extending services into the evening should be fairly cheap - it has very few hidden implications and won't need very many new buses, if any. The main expense would be hiring more drivers.<br /><br />As well as providing a service for passengers to ride, which will boost patronage by default, it will quite probably make the whole network more useful as people can get home as well as getting there, so people might take the bus instead of driving. In terms of bang for buck, evening services have to be the top priority.Michael Angelicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243521105582433095noreply@blogger.com