Re: New Fares in NSW

[Mr Simpson <mdoyle@mail.usyd.edu.au>]

David Proctor wrote:

> Mr Simpson wrote in message <372C479B.229D559A@mail.usyd.edu.au>...
>
> >  As if that will ever increase... only make the weekly and once off ticket
> >buyers subsidise them.
> >How long have they been a dollar, and how many times has your weekly gone
> up
> >since then?
>
> I used the $1 ticket as an example.
>
> It would cost me far more than a weekly ticket (even if the cost was
> doubled) to drive from Glenmore Park (near Penrith) to the City every
> morning and return every evening - this is not due to normal petrol usage
> for a normal trip, but is due to increased usage of the vehicle due to
> congestion. It would take far longer, and burn more fuel, than I am prepared
> to allow.
>

and parking is a nightmare where i go...

> And for that, commuters receive something like a 40% discount - WHY?
>
> Why the grossly overallowed 40%? I agree some discount is due, but 40% for a
> weekly? That then means you have to discount deeper for monthlies,
> quarterlies and yearlies.
>

i go for the travelpass.. couple of extra dollars for bus travel too..
absolutely fantastic for tripping backwards and forwards around the city etc.
that once again brings up the problem of revenue, and adds the sticky problem of
sharing it between state transit and cityrail.

> I also think OffPeak Returns are far too cheap as well - I would be changing
>

i'll tell you now, i get student concession (see my address:P), thus i get no
benefit of off peak fare reductions, i still get half the peak full fare
regardless, so i really can't comment on the pros and cons of the reduction.

> them as follows - raise them somewhat (about 15%) and leave them at their
> current availability (available to return at ANY time) - and slightly
> reduced fares for a restriction on returning during the evening peak. It is
> ridiculous that there is a restriction during the morning peak, but there is
> no restriction in the evening.
>

i agree, but i think its simply too hard to administer, as how on earth will
they check that the offpeak commuters actually don't travel during the
restricted period, since a restriction can't be placed on selling the ticket (it
can be bought any time.. used later) nor on putting the ticket through gates (no
guarantee there are gates in use etc). such a restriction would open up a new
world of fare evasion - its bad enough as it is.besides.. what hours would you
define as evening peak? in the morning everyone is through by 9.. in the arvo
journeys can start at 2-3 for industry and the school kids; 4-5 for other
businesses and then 6 or later for others


Homer
(I'm too tired to say more:P)