Greens' Lord Mayoral Candidate Jo Bragg launched the Greens' Kids Ride Free policy this morning with the help of students Myora Kane, Hannah Pham and Lucy Marqus-Kyle (pictured left to right). The policy, designed to encourage more young people aged 5-18 to use public transport, will take the strain off family budgets, help young people develop good transport habits and reduce traffic on the roads. Under the $21 million scheme young people living in Brisbane will be eligible for $120 worth of free public transport each year. A similar policy has already been implemented in London, with great results for young people and their families.
Kids ride free in BCC!
Another forward thinking initiative from the Brisbane Greens
The proposal
Each of the 178,000 young people in Brisbane aged 5-18 (0-4 year olds already ride free) will be eligible for $120 worth of free off-peak travel each year on public transport.
Children and teenagers will be provided with a $120 off-peak credit on a registered TransLink Go-card.
This bonus will extend to peak services once public transport capacity issues have been addressed.
The Greens have budgeted the scheme at $21 million per year (assuming 100% take up) from a transport budget that is currently over $600 million per year.
The benefits
• Reduced obesity by giving children more opportunities to walk and cycle
• Improved safety around schools by reducing the number of vehicles dropping off students
• Speeding up bus routes because less young people will have to buy paper tickets
• Less stress on the family budget from transport expenses e.g. fuel and owning a 2nd car.
• Reduced congestion and pollution by converting more trips from car to public transport
• More independence for young people, and parents can spend less time acting as a taxi service
• Making it easier for young people to travel in a city where most government money goes into roads
• Help young people learn more about the system before they learn how to drive. This means they are less likely to become habitual car drivers.
How does the system work now?
Under TransLink the current discount arrangements are:
• Children ages 0-4 ride free
• Children ages 5-13 ride at half price
• Children 14 ride at half price with a valid student card
Has free public transport been tested elsewhere?
Noosa City Council ran a free (for all users) bus period over Christmas time.
In Melbourne early morning trains will be free to encourage people to use the service outside of the main peaks
In Brisbane the government already runs free buses to sporting events and concerts.
A Kids Ride Free Scheme has been introduced in London:
• January 2004 – free bus and tram travel for under 11’s
• September 2005 – extended to under 16’s
• September 2006 – all under 18’s in full time education
• In February this year 385,000 young Londoners were using service
Families with school age children are saving up to 350 pounds per child each year. A survey carried out on 30th September 2005 showed that 80 per cent of Londoners back the free travel scheme.
The cost is said to be 50 million pounds per year in subsidy and 20 million pounds per year for extra buses (reference)
A survey of 14 and 15 year olds conducted a year after free travel for under 16s was introduced found:
• 40 per cent said they used cars less due to free bus and tram travel;
• 63 per cent say they use buses more to go to sport; and
• 68 per cent said they use buses more to see family and friends.
Download the report on the London scheme here
Why can't the free public transport extend to all full time students, regardless of age? I am still studying full time, and am in a better financial position now, but I remember in my undergraduate degree feeling the pinch of paying for transport to and from university. I think that if a student is travelling to and from their place of study, it should be free.
Posted by: Kimberley Tilbrook | March 14, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Dear Kimberley,
This is a good idea. Council's transport budget is $600 million per year, and once you take into account spending required on public transport, walking, cycling and road infrastructure then there is probably not enough money left over for full free travel.
That said, the State Government has a transport budget of over $3000 million, and they could easily implement a scheme such as the one you have proposed. So, perhaps this could end up as a Greens' policy for the State elections.
All the best
Tristan Peach
Greens' candidate for Hamilton Ward
Posted by: Tristan Peach | March 14, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Ridiculous policy, an absolute waste of funding. And The Greens wonder why they don't get many votes?
Posted by: Josef Lunn | March 16, 2008 at 09:30 PM