TRY GETTING ON BOARD FOR A CHANGE
We need them all – trams, trains, electric buses, ondemand mini buses, driverless buses, Ubers, taxis, ebikes and push scooters – so what are you protesting?
HERE’S a crazy idea.
Instead of complaining about every new proposal to resolve our many public transportation problems across this city, why not be a part of the solution?
Go on, put down your “trams outta Palmy” signs for just a moment, stop railing against the light rail, road tolls, e-bikes and traffic … and try something productive.
It’s actually so easy. Believe it or not, the Gold Coast City Council actually wants to know what we, the residents, think when it comes to forming the 2041 transport strategy.
They’ve created a survey just for us to tell them what we want.
So go visit gchaveyoursay.com.au/ transport, view the discussion paper and then fill out the questionnaire.
Now, that’s not to say that your wishlist will be granted.
After all, this is a big city with a lot of big opinions … but this is a real opportunity to make yours count, even if simply as part of a “majority rules”.
Because just complaining is getting us nowhere … literally.
It seems we can all agree on the problem – too much traffic – but a sensible solution? Not so much.
Here’s an example of the whinging that’s driving me wild:
“Light rail is the main cause of traffic congestion, not the key to it,” wrote one online commenter.
“The billions being spent on it are depriving us of the funds to provide a city-wide bus network that would enable people to leave their cars at home.”
First of all, I don’t see how light rail is adding to the problem when it’s taking cars off the road.
Or, at the very least, preventing the addition of more cars to our roads.
But as for this business about it depriving us of a citywide bus service … what?
Has this person never noticed those really, really, really big bright yellow or green vehicles that have numbers on the front?
Those are all part of our city-wide bus service.
And despite the fantastic service they offer across the Gold Coast, people still don’t leave their cars at home.
There is no silver bullet to fix our traffic problems … it’s going to take a network.
We need light rail, heavy rail, electric buses, on-demand mini buses, driverless buses, Ubers, taxis, e-bikes, escooters, push bikes, push scooters and plenty of paths for when we want to use our own two legs.
But what we need most of all is to change our habits.
And to do that, we have to let the city know just what it is we need and want.
What will make you leave the car at home? What will make you take a bus? Or a train?
Well, here are a few great suggestions … taken from our own Bulletin readers.
“We need to make sure our pathway network is well thought out, connected and supported with appropriate end-of-trip charging and drinking facilities,” wrote one. So true!
One of my favourite features in my car is the ability to charge my phone while I’m driving … and God bless the cup-holders.
If I could be sure to charge up my phone along my walking/biking path or knew I didn’t need to carry along a bottle of water, well, it’s sad to
say but that would make a difference.
Here’s another interesting suggestion:
“I’d love to use public transport more, if only it was priced reasonably.
“It currently costs more than the car drive. Public transport should be a subsidised service, not a profitable business.”
Now, I’m sure we can’t have free travel all of the time, but why not give each resident a few weeks (if not months) of free rides in an effort to
change our habits?
How about every new Go Card comes with a free month’s trial?
Regardless, my message to both of these commenters – whomever you are – as well as all the rest of us residents, is to go fill out the survey. Make your opinion count. Because this idea is so crazy … it just might work.
Feedback? Email the Bulletin at letters@goldcoast.com.au
What will make you leave your car at home?