Author: PTUA

  • Bicycles to be banned from peak hour trains

    V/Line and Connex plan to ban bicycles on peak hour trains from the 1st of January 2008. The V/Line ban will apply to all trains in the peak direction, and we understand that the Connex ban will apply to all trains in the peak direction within zone 1. (Bicycles will be allowed at all times…

  • High petrol prices here to stay – more public transport needed

    The finding that there is “no obvious evidence of price fixing” by petrol retailers underlines the need for greater investment in public transport to provide an escape from car dependence, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today. “The report on petrol pricing released today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) shows that…

  • No Hill without tram

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) said today that the Doncaster Hill project was destined for failure without a proper rail transport link and renewed calls for the immediate extension of tram 48 to Doncaster. “There’s no chance of a successful Doncaster Hill without a tram connecting to the city and nearby suburbs,” said PTUA…

  • Opinion piece: That slow train is still

    Opinion piece by Anthony Morton, Secretary, PTUA, published in the Herald Sun, 11 December 2007 That slow train is still HOW do you revive an ailing public transport system? Who do you blame when your train doesn’t show up because it has broken down somewhere? Or when it does show up, it’s so crowded you…

  • Bus as slow as bicycle – Rowville train needed

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has renewed calls for the immediate construction of the Rowville Railway line, describing the route 900 Wellington Road SmartBus as inadequate. “Bus services just cannot be compared with trains,” said Jeremy Lunn, the PTUA’s Outer-East Convenor. “The bus crawls along at bicycle pace resulting in travel times of over…

  • Box Hill Commuters ‘hold on’ for Toilets

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has called for the immediate installation of toilet facilities to be installed at Box Hill railway station, the only Premium Station in Melbourne without any toilet facilities. “Commuters have to go out of their way on a stroll through the shopping centre to find a toilet,” said Jeremy Lunn,…

  • More cities follow the path to public control of transport

    From our December 2007 newsletter. Please join the PTUA to receive regular newsletters. A key campaign for the PTUA this year has been working for the restoration of strong public control of public transport in Melbourne and Victoria. Our favoured model for public control is the ‘Transport Community’ model used in cities like Zurich, Vancouver,…

  • Petition to end bus drought

    The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has launched a petition demanding an end to inadequate bus services along Canterbury Road and calling for a new ‘SmartBus’ service operating between Box Hill and Ringwood serving commuters, business and the community. “The bureaucrats and the Brumby Government are just not paying attention to the needs of the…

  • Federal road funding blows Geelong’s greenhouse budget

    Geelong’s transport greenhouse gas emissions will rise even faster under proposals from both major parties to upgrade major roads instead of improving public transport, the Public Transport Users Association has warned. Geelong Branch Convener Paul Westcott said both parties also risked making the region more vulnerable to high petrol prices by increasing dependence on cars,…

  • How to vote for public transport this Saturday

    While Climate Change is now a mainstream issue, the major parties continue to ignore the impact of transport — which accounts for up to half of household emissions. Better public transport would also relieve pain from petrol prices, traffic congestion, impact on obesity, access to education and work opportunities, and spread property demand better around…

  • Cut our oil addiction, parties told

    Public transport groups today urged the federal government and opposition to develop land transport plans that reduce reliance on costly and polluting oil. “The PM has highlighted the negative impacts of our oil addiction on two consecutive days now,” said Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) President Daniel Bowen. “First he said high oil prices are…

  • PTUA Annual General Meeting results

    The 31st Annual General Meeting of the PTUA took place on Thursday night, 25 October, at Ross House. The meeting was well attended, with 65 members present. Members present were keen to acknowledge the ongoing work of the PTUA, and the ordinary business of the organisation proceeded without dissent. The membership passed two resolutions at…