RORTING NOT FARE
FARE evaders are ripping off almost $3 million a year from buses, confirming rorting remains rampant on the public transport system.
Up to 500,000 passengers have barged on to buses without paying, with similar rorting on trams.
Public transport groups believe the continued high cost of fares was a key reason commuters were avoiding paying.
FARE evaders are ripping off almost $3 million a year from buses, confirming rorting remains rampant on the public transport system.
The Bulletin has previously reported that up to 500,000 passengers have barged on to buses without paying, with drivers hitting the fare evade button.
Similar rorting on the trams led authorities to mount a blitz, catching almost 400 people in a month.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said eight dedicated TransLink senior network officers at Southport were keeping passengers safe and providing a revenue protection service.
“Since January 1, 2018 network officers have deployed 2588 times on Surfside services and during this time they have issued about 1036 warnings and 208 penalty infringement notices,’’ Mr Bailey said.
“Although it’s not logistically possible to conduct revenue protection activities on all bus services, officers use an ‘anywhere, anytime’ approach to their patrols.
“Once on board a bus, their presence limits further fare evading as they are a highly visible deterrent, which in turn limits the fines issued.”
Mr Bailey said the majority of the 38,000 passengers who use the system were doing the right thing.
But improved enforcement showed fare evaders in 2017-18 had ripped off $2.7 million from revenue.
“The revenue they are stealing could be reinvested in improved public transport services for all customers,” Mr Bailey said. “We need all travellers to accept their responsibilities and we will continue to take measures to stamp out fare evasion.
“I remind fare evaders that they face a penalty infringement notice of $261 if they are caught and can be hit with a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units or six months in jail for this offence.”
Public transport lobby groups believe a key reason for fare evasion continues to be the cost of fares.
Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said fare evasion would be reduced if the government agreed to freeze ticket prices for two years.
He said the government’s decision to change fare structures and decrease the number of zones in December, 2016 had a positive impact.
“We still think, on the feedback we’re receiving, it’s a bit excessive,” Mr Dow said.
“Fares should be frozen for two years ... that would help get rid of the perception it is unaffordable.
“Fare evasion on buses is amazingly high. Drivers will challenge people but let them on anyway.
“Smartarses know this and they work the system.”
He said the solution was more network enforcement officers as bus drivers should not be the “fare evasion police”.
A Bulletin Golden Age survey conducted early this year revealed Gold Coasters would use public transport if fares were “fairer’’. Seventy-six per cent of respondents said they would catch a train to Brisbane if the fare was reduced by about half to $5.
COMMUTERS have to pay their way. Fare dodgers might feel smug as they push their way on to a bus without paying, but their actions cost all taxpayers who subsidise the transport system and hurt other passengers who have to cop fare increases.
Bus drivers simply record the fare evasion and drive on. Too many have been bashed in the past to be heroes. Challenging fare evaders is now the role of transport security and the police.
As reported today, Transport Minister Mark Bailey says there can be no tolerance of people deliberately riding for free. Fare evaders cost Surfside Buses an estimated $2.7 million in lost revenue in 2017-18.
This cannot continue. With losses of that order, it is false economy not to employ extra transport cops. But the problem is far broader than the bus scammers.
Similar problems occur on tram and rail services. These public transport issues are linked to the headaches of the M1 and the maze of arterial and secondary roads that are clogged at peak hour and in the case of the Pacific Motorway, at any time when even the most minor bingle occurs.
Yes, we must have an alternative motorway because the population is soaring at a rate that has outstripped transport infrastructure. Yes, the light rail must be extended to the Gold Coast airport. Yes, we need heavy rail to operate at greater frequency and also through to the border.
But services need bums on seats – and the only way to prise commuters out of their cars is to drop fares. This was demonstrated in the Bulletin’s Golden Age survey after the Commonwealth Games, when 76 per cent of respondents said they would use trains if fares were reduced by half.
Drivers spend $90-$100 a week on fuel if they commute to Brisbane. Train passengers similarly spend about $95 – but without the door to door service.
If the Government dropped fares by half and improved frequency and journey time, motorists say they would migrate to rail in droves. The Cross River Rail project to boost services is happening, but there are other issues. More park and ride facilities have to be in place to meet demand.
For local services, fare reductions would convince many more workers to use the buses and trams.
Lower fares would also help battling families whose fare-evading children have been a significant part of the bus problem. Solutions are there.
All it takes is for the Government to recognise a big part of the problem is the current fare structure.