Still unaffordable!

We prepared this table from information available from transit authority websites for each mainland state capital.

Look at the state of zone 1!

This is an updated version with some corrections 09/09/12. Our apologies to anyone living in the zone 1 part of Kangaroo Point.

We rode the boundaries of Zone 1 on our push bikes in order to plot out it's true shape (a bunyip?). Please take the time to observe that it is in no way circular as indicated on the Translink maps. We have discovered that the shifting of zones has occurred all over the Brisbane Metro area.

Look at the state of these zones!

Brisbane's public transport zones under Translink are a product of  a long history of manipulation and disorganised attempts to create an effective integrated ticketing system. The map we have created shows the various tentacles created by the inclusion of  transition zones or 'precincts' which make up 20% of all train stations on the Translink network. It is a band aid solution that has become part of their system which is why Translink don't provide us with good zone information, and we have to go and dig it out. 

Have a close look at Darra Station. Look near it and you will see just how ridiculous and unfair this zoning system is to people in Inala.

We used online maps, journey planner, timetables, push bikes, walking, and lots of local knowledge to plot the REAL zone boundaries for this segment of Brisbane's south. You can see how they've manipulated the boundaries along train lines a

nd the South East Busway.
We have 5 more of these to do to complete the map of Brisbane, but it takes a lot of work and local knowledge. If you would like to help, we have prepared some instructions for doing the research and plotting the zone changes. Just get in touch and we'll help get you started.

National comparison table

We prepared this table using info gathered from the transit websites for each city. Feel free to print it out.

Notching up with the 9 journey cap

The current government said they were going to do something about cost of living. They've said they would do something to make public transport more affordable. Tomorrow they deliver the one thing that will make fares lower until the next fare rise in 6 months time. Changing the 10 journey cap to a 9 journey cap is a tiny tweak to an existing fare saving opportunity that is targeted at those who commute to work full time.

So make the most of this tiny tweak. It's now even cheaper to notch up your go-card. 

Here's how our notching up service works. 

• I provide the service to people who work in or around the Brisbane CBD on Monday mornings so as to optimize the benefits for the rest of the week. Ideally you will have notched one journey getting to work. 
• You need to provide me with an unregistered go-card as this protects both of us from infringement of Translink rules as anyone can be the bearer of an unregistered go-card.
• I charge $1 per notch and the go-card needs to be charged with enough credit to cover the cost of 8-1 zone (off peak) journeys $19.52 or the cost of 9-1 zone (off peak) journeys $21.96 if you have not notched up a journey that morning.
• Text me your workplace address or a meeting place, I'll meet you around 9am, grab your go-card and $8 or $9, and return it before you finish work. 

The cost of each journey will be $3.44 which is a significant saving! I am eager to get as many go-cards as I can as I have a new strategy that will allow me to notch up go-cards in bulk. This may interest your co-workers?

Michael Swifte

0449 180 465

Ladies and gentlemen, The REAL Zone 1. We rode the boundaries of Zone 1 on our push bikes in order to plot out it's true shape (a bunyip?). Please take the time to observe that it is in no way circular as indicated on the Translink maps. We have discovered that the shifting of zones has occurred all over the Brisbane Metro area. It would be very interesting to see a true map of all zones.

Top 3 Go Card loopholes

We have been interrogating the Go Card system and have found it to be incredibly complex. We put this complexity down to attempting to integrate the ancient no-returns rule that has existed on Brisbane Transport buses since they begun 46 years ago. It is also a product of the enormous size of the Translink network and the need to accommodate very long and short trips under the same system of transfer rules.

After speaking with a wide range of Translink users we have discovered some of the loopholes that are being exploited by ordinary people trying to make public transport more affordable. They involve choosing when and where it is better to ignore the advice from Translink on when touch on or touch off at un-gated train stations, and how the no-returns rule is not enforced through the Go Card system. These loopholes are not being policed by Translink in any way and it is next to impossible to be caught using them.

1. The return journey to the shops
   Bus drivers and QR ticket inspectors are instructed to enforce the ancient no-returns rules on paper tickets but the Go Card system does not recognise a return journey. This is great news for those on a budget who have only one bus route in their area. If you are able to touch on for your return trip within an hour of touching off you can affect a return journey. If you follow the instructions on the Translink website you would be charged twice. If you had a paper ticket you may be asked to buy another ticket.
   
   
2. The half day journey (this loophole has been closed)
   Every time you touch off with your Go Card the clock starts ticking and after an hour your journey will expire. The Translink website specifies that all journeys on the Go Card are to be one way but allows up to 6 hours from when you first touch on to complete your journey . Because the Go Card system does not police return journeys, by using the train you can make a return journey of up to 6 hours simply by touching on again before leaving the station after your first trip (does not apply at gated stations). Under the Go Card transfer rules you must touch on for your last trip within 3.5 hours of first touching on, so if your first trip has taken 30 minutes, simply touch back on, leave the station and return in time to touch off at your final destination before the 6 hours has expired.
   
   
3. The trip stretch
   This is similar to the half day journey except it involves delaying touching off at non-gated stations. If you have an appointment that will last more than an hour, then by simply not touching off when you exit the station and then touching off when you return to the station you can delay the start of the 1 hour transfer window. After you have touched off you then touch on for your return trip. The Go Card system thinks your first trip has been longer than it actually was and you save yourself from being charged twice. 
   
   
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Let's talk about affordability

The information in this table was gathered from public transport websites for each mainland state capital in Australia. It gives an opportunity to compare the fares, ticketing, and zones for Translink against other transit authorities. Is Translink up to best practice?

   

New government, same Translink! So we're ramping up our notching up service!

The LNP is in! They made the least promises and who knows if they're going to keep any of them. Translink is still shabby and unaffordable. So we're ramping up our notching up service. It's the same idea that we launched our campaign with back in January, except we've got some new strategies to notch up in bulk!   

Here's how our notching up service works. 

• I provide the service to people who work in or around the Brisbane CBD on Monday mornings so as to optimize the benefits for the rest of the week. Ideally you will have notched one journey getting to work. 
• You need to provide me with an unregistered go-card as this protects both of us from infringement of Translink rules as anyone can be the bearer of an unregistered go-card.
• I charge $1 per notch and the go-card needs to be charged with enough credit to cover the cost of 9-1 zone (off peak) journeys $21.96 or the cost of 10-1 zone (off peak) journeys $24.40 if you have not notched up a journey that morning.
• Text me your workplace address or a meeting place, I'll meet you around 9am, grab your go-card and $9 or $10, and return it before you finish work. 

The cost of each journey will be $3.44 which is a significant saving! I am eager to get as many go-cards as I can as I have a new strategy that will allow me to notch up go-cards in bulk. This may interest your co-workers?

Michael Swifte

0414 215 288

Affordable transport for Brisbane (and the rest of SEQ) a petition

The awesome Clarissa Carden has started a petition. Worthy! All aboard the petition wagon!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/affordable-public-transport-for-brisbane/

My promise to Translink

Taken on the 15th of February at the Melbourne St exit of the South East Busway . 

Struggling with the unfair Translink network? Tell us your stories.

Are you part time employed, unemployed, or a first year apprentice and have a health care card? We would like to hear from you! 

Do you know someone who is struggling to get to interviews, work, or appointments due to the excessive cost of public transport? If you do please drop us a line. 

The stories of real people who deserve better transport are what the transport minister needs to hear during the coming election!


Translink page: Types of go-card. 

Notching up. It's growing! Mark my words!

The team were out the front of central station handing out our 'notching up' offer to commuters saying "The Translink Ripoff" and "We are being ripped off!". I lost count of how many times I heard "We sure are!".

Though we only got one taker for our offer we think it was a successful outing. Terry who lives in Lawnton will save $18 because of our notching service. He was not only happy to get a saving but stoked to see some active resistance against Translink's coercive strategies.

While I was on the busway notching up Terry's unregistered go-card I bumped into Andrew who lives at the Gold Coast and commutes to Brisbane daily. He said he had seen last weeks Brisbane Times article and had decided to have a go at notching his own card. We hopped buses for forty minutes together while I shared some of the finer points of notching. Andrew stands to make a significant saving for his efforts (roughly $90) saying that the time he took off work was worth it. Andrew will be sharing his experiences with the local Chinese language community online.

We are of the opinion that an enterprising young bicycle courier could earn a few bucks by offering a notching service.

Please like our Facebook page

Notching up your unregistered go-card

Today we have a very special offer. After receiving legal advice we've decided to make this offer available only for adults with unregistered go-cards. According to the Translink website go-card conditions of use " The go card must only be used by the authorised user or by the cardholder if no authorised user is nominated." 

Translink do not specify that the person who purchases a go-card retain proof of purchase so therefore an unregistered go-card is transferable between individuals, ie the card holder is any person holding that card. 

Here is how our offer works. TXT your first name and second initial, and your CBD work address to Michael on 0414 215 288 before 10am. Our team will 'notch up' 9 journey's and return your card to you at work between 2pm and 3pm. 

You will need at least $21.96 credit on your go-card to cover the 9 journey's. We are asking for $1 cash per journey. 

Numbers are limited so get in early!

Go unregistered!

A very special service that will save you money!

Next Monday morning 09/01/12 I will be at Central Station offering a very special service. For $1 per journey I will run up 9 journeys in zone 1 during off-peak. If you live outside zone 1 and commute during peak times, that means a saving of at least $0.14 per journey for the rest of the week.
Look for the guy wearing The Translink Ripoff t-shirt. Just give me your go-card (with at least $21.96 credit) and $9 cash. Then just txt me your CBD work address and I will drop your card off before you go home. Easy!

How to get the most from the new 10 journey cap.

The cheapest and most efficient way to make 10 journeys on your go-card is to travel in one zone where service frequencies are highest. The best place in Brisbane is in Zone 1 between Mater Hill station and the Cultural Centre station. Because the go-card system does not recognise or police return journeys on  your go-card you can travel back and forth along the busway without any problems. And the very stingy 3 transfer limit means you can complete a journey by hoping from bus to bus.

When catching buses outbound from the Cultural Centre station be sure to avoid catching the 192, 196, 197, 199, City Glider, or the 202 as they travel down Melbourne St. Also avoid any bus with 3, 4, or 5 as the first number.

The new off peak fare for 1 zone is $2.44. Ten journeys is therefore $24.40 and a new go-card is $5. For the sum total of $29.40 I was able to reach the 10 journey cap and was able to sell it to a backpacker who can travel with it for free for the next 6.5 days! They could even use it for a trip to the coast then sell it on.

The Translink Ripoff on Facebook

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