Transport system

PRIVATE car use is the termination of community; thus the maker of community is effective public transport. This statement is widely acknowledged to be true.

Previous to the recent change with regard to public transport in Crows Nest the core users took the 7am service to Toowoomba; this journey would take one hour to arrive at Toowoomba Grand Central. The next service was the 9am and arriving at 10am. A return service left Toowoomba at 10am arriving at Crow’s Nest at 11am. The noon departure would be used for a return arrival at 1pm. With regard to the journey a return trip took a total of two hours. These services I can state were relied upon and could have been built upon with regard to usage.

Pickups would be Hampton, Pechey, Geham and Carbarlah. Among the regular users would be the blind, downs syndrome persons, intellectually impaired, mothers and infants, physically disabled, those employed in the city, those studying at TAFE college. Travellers would connect to other services and travel further afield. Users would be a variety of people: children, teenagers, aged, workers and those studying; social and shopping.

With regard to the development of a self-sustaining bus service the population of Toowoomba is much greater than the town of Crows Nest thus Toowoomba’s continued use of the service would be of major benefit and indeed could be grown.

It can be observed that Toowoomba has an over reliance on the motor car: lack of people walking, crammed roads, lack of car parking places; all play a part in the frown on people’s faces and differing to the previously sensed country town feel which is now lost.

Crows Nest has a folk museum, swimming pool, central park, bowls club, retirement complex, community halls, library, together with fresh air and quite nature walks and other places of interest I have omitted to list.

Indeed there are already people who come into Crows Nest from both Toowoomba and Highfields for a variety of reasons; shop at the town’s opportunity shops through to use of the town’s clubs and appreciate the country town life.

The challenges of evolving into a 21st century community depend on the making of correct decisions; of vital concern are facilitation of technology together with pollution and climate change. It can be said that driverless cars will not be privately owned; Wi-Fi apps and web information will facilitate all manner of effective streamlined transport service; and this process is under way.

I appreciate the monetary cost involved with running a subpar transport service though I suggest that in this day and age with regard to community to make the service less effective is not the answer. — STEVEN THOMAS, Crows Nest