Re: Yarra Trams Article in Sunday Age

["Brendan Morley" <morb_@_bit_._net_._au>]

"Railvic" <railvic@primus.com.au> wrote in message
3A7689B4.79FC616C@primus.com.au">news:3A7689B4.79FC616C@primus.com.au...
> Dave Proctor wrote:
> > Just as an exercise, I took a couple of umpiring friends out for the
day -
> > one from Sydney, one from Auckland, and one from New York - and I let
them
> > try and figure out the ticket we needed to get to Puffing Billy from
North
> > Melbourne - I gave them a brochure detailing the fare system, and they
were
> > able to do so, without any assistance from me. So it is not as hard as
> > people make it out to be.
>
> Many people I have come across don't do "homework" before they leave
> home to go somewhere (including checking street directory, transport
> timetable/fare information, etc.).  I am surprised they have ventured
> out of their front door and know which way to turn next!!  Dave in the
> example above, you have done necessary "homework" with your visiting
> friends, obviously you have no trouble ... but try to tell those who
> want to be lazy and then they get angry because they have missed their
> connecting service or got off at the wrong stop ...

Let's remember that we're competing against the private car here...

It's easy for people to be able to do their homework with the car:  A
refidex is usually all you need and there's plenty of space to carry it
around with you.  If you don't have the right change for a meter, fine, go
to a parking station instead, or go to a service station and break the
change up...

With Public Transport, if you start expecting them to do "homework" they'll
think it's all too hard and go back to the car.  You need things like
information at stops, etc.

Brendan