How can governments improve public transport to make it more attractive?

Question

we here in Perth Western Australia have what I would describe as an ok transport system thats ok price wise but not so great efficentcy wise (aka percentage of trains on time) and I would love to know where you live and what your government does to allow reliable and on time public transport services in order to make these more attractive for people to go from place to place.

thanks for your input

Mitch

Answer 1

If you've been to Sydney and had use the train system, you wouldn't be complaining about what you have in Perth.

With gasoline/petrol prices going through the stratosphere, you don't need to ATTRACT drivers to public transport anymore. Market forces have done what expensive PR-campaigns have failed to do.

Ultimately, to truly improve service quality to commuters, you need to take government (city, state, federal) out of the picture. Let me explain.

Transport projects, especially freeways/rail take up to 20-odd years from the proverbial drawing board all the way to taking on passengers.

Politicians, however, sees the world in 3-5 year "election cycles". See it from a State Governor's Point of View.

Starting a new railway or freeway project generates the innevitable critisms:

-the opposition will always label the new project as a "expensive gimmick" or "fancy toy"

-environmentalists will lament and cry fowl if you drain one yard of swampland or cut down one d**n tree

-home owners forced to relocate will go on TV with "heart-breaking stories" about "insensitive governments"

In democracies, politicians remain in office by winning elections. From their POV, committing to long term projects isn't politically expedient.

Even if a project survives the gauntlet of opposition, there is no guarantee that it is YOUR government or even YOUR party that will take the credit when it relieves congestion.

Voters are a forgetful lot - they'll remember "traffic improved when THEIR party was in parliament" and not "Geez, good thing Premier X started this subway 10 years ago".

In contrast, as a politician, you much prefer short-term , high-visibility projects that offer plenty of photo opportunities. That is why government or publicly-funded mass transit initiatives never get off the drawing board or never function as they should.

Answer 2

I live in NYC and we have the world biggest public transportation.  Daily about 11 million people ride the subway and the bus system (or more now that the gas prices has risen).  Many people who live in Manhattan don't even bother getting a driver's license.

The NYC mass transit is NOT perfect but it works well.  The 2 best thing about it is that (1) 1 price to go anywhere - including free tranfers (2) cheap price - about equal to less than 1/2 gallon - even cheaper if you buy a weekly and montly pass.

The LAST but the most important factor for the success of NYC mass transit it that a rider can get from ANYWHERE to ANYWHERE in NYC.  It may take a while but it is easily possible.  So many people NEVER bother to get a car.

Many cities only serve the central part of the city. So the people almost HAVE to own a car.  

NOT in NYC.  Here a car is just an optional item.

Good Luck...

P.S.  recently NYC was voted the MOST green city because of the high percent of public transit riders.  It was some magazine focused on GREEN issue.

Answer 3

Hello Mitch.

Well, I just moved to Santa Barbara, California. I lived in Los Angeles. Both places are big areas of public transportation. I especially noticed it here in Santa Barbara, its a college town, alot of college kids use the bus. Yet, there are still alot of the public that uses it as well, and i think it just has to do with area. If your in a place that is not doing well with public transportation, its always gonna stay that way, thats what i think. goodluck