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What forms of transport do you currently use to travel within the Sunshine Coast and would the introduction of light rail change your transport habits and why?
We're interested in the transport modes you currently use to travel within the Sunshine Coast, for what purposes ( e.g. work, shopping, recreation etc), how frequently you travel and your thoughts on the potential impact of light rail on the transport modes you currently use.
Comment 1 6 Jan 2012, 4:28 PM
I was wanting to know if there was any opportunity to consider the introduction of a bicycle only carriage. I went to some presentations regarding the creation of the Perth train line, and the car parking for the park and ride facilities would fill up very quickly. They did a survey of the rego plates to see where they were all the cars were from and they were surprised that inexcess of 50% of the cars were within 800 m of the station. They are now trying to retro fit bicycle facilities at each train station.
The thought that I more…
Light Rail 2020 Project Team Comment 1.1 Project Staff 10 Jan 2012, 9:01 AM
Hi Chris,
Cycle access for the light rail will be an integral part of all stages of planning. As a minimum, it is expected there will be safe routes to the stations, and secure cycle storage facilities provided at those stations with a significant residential catchment.
The opportunity to take bicycles on to the light rail vehicles will be explored during more detailed planning. There are examples of overseas practice where this works, for example by having a dedicated loading point on the platform for cyclists matched to a bicycle rack on that part of the vehicle.
Many bicycles are large and have sharp protrusions, hence the risk of injury or inconvenience to other passengers, especially when the vehicles are crowded. Certainly the objective of allowing bicycles onto the vehicles is supported by Council, but the practical access arrangements need to be very carefully managed.
The light rail vehicles are modular and do not have carriages in the same way as some other forms of passenger rail do, hence it is not possible to provide a “cyclist only” carriage.
Comment 2 7 Jan 2012, 7:39 PM
Currently I only take the bus once or twice a month - as a bit of a fun outing with my little boy. I desperately wish the buses were more frequent, cheaper and more convenient to my work and home locations so I could catch one every day. Light rail would make a huge difference to me as I live near the new hospital site and work near Dalton Drive/the Plaza. As I understand it, there will be two major stations at both those spots. So it would be perfect for me. It would enable me to get to work every day and probably mean we could get rid of one car. Unfortunately though, right now, it all seems like a pipe dream and I really believe I will be an old lady when it finally arrives (I am currently 35)! Action, action, action! Build it, make it efficient and cheap - and they will come.
Comment 3 8 Jan 2012, 2:56 PM
Light rail was a key part of regional planning before the SEQRP. Government has reneged on the timing of the light rail which I understood originally was meant to have commenced in 2012. For all the blustering talk of TOD that the State and ULDA have done to death, if the efficient transport systems are not provided up front or in line with progressive development of these centres - we will end up with adhoc development with the big end of town and commercially paid bureacrats the only winners! Action now!
Comment 4 27 Jan 2012, 5:48 PM
As we live at Boreen Point, our transport options are limited. When convenient and available, we use the Flexi taxi service to Tewantin, then Sunbus. This is mainly for shopping, then for meeting friends and family and third to attend meetings, functions etc. At other times we use a car for local travel, and QR for trips to Brisbane and beyond. Our visits to the Coast south of Peregian are infrequent, not least because of the limited bus service, but when it's necessary to go to Maroochy and beyond we would either drive or car-pool. In the past we have more…
Comment 5 7 Feb 2012, 7:13 PM
I drive from Sippy to Maroochydore daily; PT is not an option because it takes an hour to get from Sippy to the Plaza on a bus while it takes 15minutes at the most driving.
Light rail won't change my habits because timetabling and costs will prove too inefficient.
In my opinion the timing is too late to make much difference to usage; a transport system/link should have been in place before Chancellor Park, Meridan, Brightwater were developed. People will have well developed habits in place before the service opens.
Comment 6 23 Feb 2012, 8:24 AM
Just wanted to say that there is a flaw in the quick poll in that you can only nominate one type of journey you would take. I nominated beach, but actually I would use it for 4 of the options.
Comment 7 23 Feb 2012, 9:36 AM
The Sunshine coast desperately need a good rail system, and it needs it now. The traffic continues to worsen as the population continues to increase. For too long it appears that road widening is considered the answer to congestion, making the area even more pedestrian and bike unfriendly. Improving public transport and providing decent bike lanes should have been included in road planning years ago. Light rail would be a great improvement and is often the most favoured form of public transport, as long as there are accessible stops, well planned routes useful to many, and above all, a frequent timetable. As more people are cycling, it would be a missed opportunity not to cater for bicycles. I agree with fruitforest, if you want accurate information, fix the quick poll so that people can click more than one type of journey.
