It will be interesting to see how this affects commuter numbers.
Will ticket inspectors be getting a paid month off?
the-ahh-guy on
PT usage is soaring already this will just make it even more attractive. The government probably hopes to catch people with a middling opinion on PT into become consistent uses once the month ends.
Grande_Choice on
Great move. Cue all the whiners but end of day, its going to be free.
Hopefully this is a kick up the ass for people to start demanding better public transport.
bleeeer on
This crisis is a make or break moment for the Allen government. If they handle this well they’ll get another term.
Mdu7788 on
Genuine question – what happens to the ticket inspectors / authorised officers during this time?
RedOx103 on
Good, sensible proposal to ease pressure on fuel demand even just a little bit. This and WFH are low-hanging fruit. Kudos to the Allan government and Vic Greens.
Ideally Albo should come over the top and fund this with some kind of war profits windfall tax, but I won’t hold my breath…
abbottstightbussy on
I wonder how long this will end up going for. No chance petrol prices come down by the end of April.
Ergomann on
Anything but WFH
Jacqland on
Does anyone know how this works for commuter club?
MrBobDobalinaDaThird on
Good commonsense proposal
windowcents on
70 million per month is not that high. If they get rid of all the ticket checkers in tram and train, perhaps the financial impact is even less.
Wish this is something they can keep it permanent. The benefits of more people using public transport will be so much more than 70 million/ month long term for Victoria.
HurstbridgeLineFTW on
It will be school holidays most of April. This will help me achieve one of my goals: to ride the 903 bus from Altona to Mordialloc.
lawyerz88 on
Great, now make it more frequent and reliable too! Got caught out with random bus replacements one too many times.
Ryzi03 on
Interesting. Probably would’ve preferred seeing the money going towards pushing forwards the timetable improvements and extra services that were planned, but it’ll still be good to see how free public transport plays out too. Good timing with an election coming up as well.
It’s one of those things that will be good for the people that already have frequent and reliable PT nearby, but will be of little use for those that don’t. That’s where the funding for extra services would’ve been good imo.
You’re not going to take PT, no matter how cheap it is, if your local bus only runs once every hour at best.
RunningJay on
Great move. I’m offend disparaging of the state gov, but this is a good pragmatic idea that won’t throw money away and may result in a net positive as people realize the convenience.
Beast_of_Guanyin on
It’s already 80% taxpayer subsidised. I’m down to make it 100% and at least save somewhat on fare enforcement.
Bradbury-principal on
That’s nice but wasn’t the free market already pushing motorists to PT? Now we’re incentivising cyclists onto crowded PT as well?
Trivius on
Cool I’ll save about $228 so can’t be too upset with that
bassoonrage on
This feels like a genie out of the bottle moment. I wonder how they’ll be able to roll it back, especially if this conflict drags on and they end up having to fund public transport for 6 months or more.
northofreality197 on
Nice one victorian government. It’s been a while since I’ve said that.
Potatoe_Potahto on
Why are the state governments so much better at responding to this stuff? Meanwhile Albo’s still up there denying there’s even a problem, or blaming Aussies for it if there is.
magnetik79 on
Sure there will be whingers (a few here already) and those calling it for cheap point scores – but seems like a good idea. If you strongly detest it – just don’t use PT. 🤷♀️
ThrowRA-4545 on
But, but, the new rail additions are all a waste of money! /s
Bastard_of_Brunswick on
Great. I just hope that services are not cut.
Just_Wolf-888 on
Nice!
beanoyip06 on
Election sweetener.. I hope you voters, vote wisely.
-Metagross- on
I would save hundreds per month if it were permanent.
seagull_loco on
Think of the fare evader officers for a second! Then fart.
Competitive-Food7021 on
Hopefully they have more services
Althusser_Was_Right on
Wow. This is great. Think I’ll save $150-200 with this over the month. Of course , PT should be free all over. But this will help a lot of people.
Geo217 on
Absolutely no way train station car parks will be able to meet the demand unless wfh is also rolled out as well.
Last Thursday 4 streets near my local tram stop were jam packed with cars which is something i’d never seen before.
A combination of free PT and making people leave the car at home who can wfh is the ideal combination.
EdenFlorence on
Good initiative. Would be nice for more frequent services (esp bus/trams) as well
coxpete on
Public transport is a universal human right.
Let’s make it free after April, for all eternity.
RedditAussie on
They should just reduce the cost to $1 so they still get some revenue, and can track patronage.
Putrid-Bar-8693 on
Isn’t this pretty dumb, when the relative cost of PT compared to driving already makes it more attractive at present? Do people really need encouragement to switch to PT when petrol prices are up about 40%?
Zodiak213 on
I wonder what happens to the AOs during this time – a month long paid holiday?
bernieinn on
FFS trains are going to be chockers, think I might start driving
38 Comments
It will be interesting to see how this affects commuter numbers.
Will ticket inspectors be getting a paid month off?
PT usage is soaring already this will just make it even more attractive. The government probably hopes to catch people with a middling opinion on PT into become consistent uses once the month ends.
Great move. Cue all the whiners but end of day, its going to be free.
Hopefully this is a kick up the ass for people to start demanding better public transport.
This crisis is a make or break moment for the Allen government. If they handle this well they’ll get another term.
Genuine question – what happens to the ticket inspectors / authorised officers during this time?
Good, sensible proposal to ease pressure on fuel demand even just a little bit. This and WFH are low-hanging fruit. Kudos to the Allan government and Vic Greens.
Ideally Albo should come over the top and fund this with some kind of war profits windfall tax, but I won’t hold my breath…
I wonder how long this will end up going for. No chance petrol prices come down by the end of April.
Anything but WFH
Does anyone know how this works for commuter club?
Good commonsense proposal
70 million per month is not that high. If they get rid of all the ticket checkers in tram and train, perhaps the financial impact is even less.
Wish this is something they can keep it permanent. The benefits of more people using public transport will be so much more than 70 million/ month long term for Victoria.
It will be school holidays most of April. This will help me achieve one of my goals: to ride the 903 bus from Altona to Mordialloc.
Great, now make it more frequent and reliable too! Got caught out with random bus replacements one too many times.
Interesting. Probably would’ve preferred seeing the money going towards pushing forwards the timetable improvements and extra services that were planned, but it’ll still be good to see how free public transport plays out too. Good timing with an election coming up as well.
It’s one of those things that will be good for the people that already have frequent and reliable PT nearby, but will be of little use for those that don’t. That’s where the funding for extra services would’ve been good imo.
You’re not going to take PT, no matter how cheap it is, if your local bus only runs once every hour at best.
Great move. I’m offend disparaging of the state gov, but this is a good pragmatic idea that won’t throw money away and may result in a net positive as people realize the convenience.
It’s already 80% taxpayer subsidised. I’m down to make it 100% and at least save somewhat on fare enforcement.
That’s nice but wasn’t the free market already pushing motorists to PT? Now we’re incentivising cyclists onto crowded PT as well?
Cool I’ll save about $228 so can’t be too upset with that
This feels like a genie out of the bottle moment. I wonder how they’ll be able to roll it back, especially if this conflict drags on and they end up having to fund public transport for 6 months or more.
Nice one victorian government. It’s been a while since I’ve said that.
Why are the state governments so much better at responding to this stuff? Meanwhile Albo’s still up there denying there’s even a problem, or blaming Aussies for it if there is.
Sure there will be whingers (a few here already) and those calling it for cheap point scores – but seems like a good idea. If you strongly detest it – just don’t use PT. 🤷♀️
But, but, the new rail additions are all a waste of money! /s
Great. I just hope that services are not cut.
Nice!
Election sweetener.. I hope you voters, vote wisely.
I would save hundreds per month if it were permanent.
Think of the fare evader officers for a second! Then fart.
Hopefully they have more services
Wow. This is great. Think I’ll save $150-200 with this over the month. Of course , PT should be free all over. But this will help a lot of people.
Absolutely no way train station car parks will be able to meet the demand unless wfh is also rolled out as well.
Last Thursday 4 streets near my local tram stop were jam packed with cars which is something i’d never seen before.
A combination of free PT and making people leave the car at home who can wfh is the ideal combination.
Good initiative. Would be nice for more frequent services (esp bus/trams) as well
Public transport is a universal human right.
Let’s make it free after April, for all eternity.
They should just reduce the cost to $1 so they still get some revenue, and can track patronage.
Isn’t this pretty dumb, when the relative cost of PT compared to driving already makes it more attractive at present? Do people really need encouragement to switch to PT when petrol prices are up about 40%?
I wonder what happens to the AOs during this time – a month long paid holiday?
FFS trains are going to be chockers, think I might start driving
Wow. A whole month. How generous of them.