Re: Buses (Victoria)

["Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>]

>I teach at a school in NB territory.  I would love to use victrip and links
>as a teaching exercise but:
>* victrip is very slow to load.

Only the first time, how have you set your cache up?

>* victrip has very little information (only links).

Yes, but the links are useful and relevant. You could go directly to
www.met.vic.gov.au but it only puts up an older version of the Victrip page
anyway. Victrip is actually a government strategy to put all transport
information under one umbrella in advance of privatisation of all govt
transport, the tram and train info is good, just private bus operators need
work.

>* victrip assumes that you know where and when you want to go.  No route
>maps.  The best it can offer is 'name a shopping centre'.  There are more
>reasons than this for travelling.

Adrian Webb, Victrip Coordinator wrote back to me when I filled out their
survey a while back. He said that when the new public transport map is
finished, it will be put on Victrip as well. This should solve this problem.

>* NB, our operator, has no information.
>
>In theory, a web page is an excellent way to provide public-transport
>information; in practice, Melbourne's has got there yet.
>--
True Victrip has some way to go but at least it is a start and it is getting
there. Unfortunately, private bus timetables are dependant upon the
operators being willing and seeing the benefits of putting their presence on
the web. Some bus companies are very net-savvy (Invicta had a web page
before victrip/buslines) others are still in the 50s/60s in terms of
management and publicity (ie people will catch our buses because they are
there no matter how good/poor the service). I agree it is poor National Bus
don't have a web site, perhaps if some of us wrote to them telling them how
we feel it might go some way towards fixing it. After all, NB seem to give
some veneer of being modern and customer responsive, perhaps this is one way
they can prove it.
To show how it may help, the Victrip web designer lives in Research (he told
me in his e-mail in reply to my filling in their survey) who is served by
Panorama (Hurstbridge Bus and Coach). He petitioned them to put a web page
up (and asked others to ring/write them) and now they have.
Also, Victrip provides links to the Met pages for tram and train timetables
which are moderately well presented (I have a link on our school page to the
Belgrave/Lilydale line which I know gets used because I look after the
Internet computer room at lunchtime and I have seen kids use it and download
the line map). So it has some use now, like most web pages, it just needs
more work.

Out of interest, here is Victrip's reply to my survey:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for completing the Victrip survey. The information so far
received has been very interesting and should result in an improved web
site and an effective advertising strategy. The winner of the weekly
ticket will be selected shortly and will be notified by e-mail. Thank
you for your help.

Yours sincerely


A. Webb
Victrip Coordinator

PS: A new public transport map is under development. When completed, the
new map will go on line. I'm trying to encourage more companies to join
Victrip, but if a timetable you need isn't there...give them a call and
let them know how you feel.

PPS: I live in Research and I'm taking it personally that Hurstbridge
(Panorama) don't have a site! Start by calling them! (don't tell them I
told you too though)

:)