Is myki a cheap coverup for a bigger problem? HELL YES!
Is anyone getting excited with Victoria’s new public transport ticketing, the very aptly named myki (pronounced “my-key”)?
I’ve been hearing, seeing and reading Melbourne’s pathetic 2030 vision crumbling like wheatbix before my very eyes. If this is Melbourne’s attempt at re-invigorating the public tranport system and lowering the number of fare evaders, she’s seriously deluded.
Melbourne’s public transport system needs a COMPLETE overhaul. Is it me or do you find that travelling into the city just to travel from Carlton to Brunswick (2 neighbouring suburbs) really hilarious? I wana slap the original designers of this pathetic excuse of a tram system.
Just a casual read several weeks ago, completely irrelevant to myki, Melbourne’s public transport system was created over a hundred years ago to transport men from the suburbs into the city to work. It was never intended to accomodate families or groups of teenagers to travel around. The last 30 years has seen Melbourne’s population EXPLODE. Throughout all this time, from being the British Empire’s second largest city to a cosmopolitian city with a thousand faces, Melbourne’s public transport system still remains an anachronism.
Changing the ticketing system will not re-energise the useless system Mr Bracks. Why don’t you spend less money on the useless tram inspectors - i know coz i’m still fare evading HAHAHA - and put them into something useful, like an exhaustive overhaul of the train and tram network.
Image taken off the official myki website.
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If more people paid for their tram ticket and less fare evaded, they may be more inclinded to use that money to improve services.
You get what you pay for.
dude, first off, it’s not so cool that you don’t pay for your tickets, it’s just not fair to the people who have paid for their tickets.
secondly, you just have to understand is not so possible the government can physically change the tram system much after all this time. and plus, no one could really foresee the future, so let’s not hate that poor guy for inventing the tram system. at least he’s done something good at his time. but i reckon what the government can do is to promote buses, because it’s really the most flexible mode of public transport.
Fair enough. I don’t pay for my ticket. But answer me this.
How do you justify paying $3.20 for a 2 hour ticket when you only need to go ONE WAY for about 7 stops. It’s f**king ridiculous.
Most fare evaders - the smart ones at least - board the tram with a 10 x 2 hour ticket or the likes. Most journeys are free, and only need validating if the tram inspectors board it. All you’ve to do is stay awake, look out at every tram stop and you save HEAPS.
Also, i’m a foreign student. Perhaps you would like to pay for the $50 difference we ‘foreigners’ have to fork out just to travel for a monthly Zone 1. Just coz we’re from overseas doesn’t mean we’re different.
Re the buses. Yes, if Melbourne city planners are less myopic, perhaps they could introduce more buses. They’re flexible and have only 1 point of entry and exit (read: no fare evading).
More buses please!
Why is it difficult travel between Brunswick and Carlton?
I agree, any system that works on the honour system is bound to fail. That said, Ive had plenty of friends get caught by tram inspectors.
I dont think the tram system needs an overhaul. It just needs to change its ticketing system. All you have to do is make it similar to a tram system that works…like Boston or one of those European cities.
Plus that logo is great, how can you not think Myki won’t be good.
I see, but for people who go to St. Kilda up to Coburg, they are getting a great deal. You have to take away the notion of a distance based fare and go on a time based fare. Sort of like a rental car or a prostitute.
hello! international student? so am i! i totally understand what do you mean by paying 3.20 for just a single tram trip, but that does not justify not paying for the ride. so most oftenly i just walk when i go to the city.
If you are an international student, you are paying full fee. For me, that was $17,000 a year. If you have that much scratch, then maybe you can afford an extra $1 for tram tickets.
Concessions should be given based if you are poor. I would say most int’s are not poor.
By the same stance, I’d say most locals are not poor either (seeing that we’re talking about concessions). International students like any, come with a budget I’m sure. So maybe their budget doesn’t include going to the bar on Thursday nights. Or clubbing on Friday nights. Whatever, you get my drift.
Lets not confuse education, money available, and transport concessions. AFAIK, Victoria and NSW are the only two states that don’t provide transport concessions to international students - all other states do.
(I found this out on Friday, as there was a booth nearby Myer on Bourke St trying to convince me to sign something to this effect)
Wow Neil, your complete lack of apathy and empathy amazes me. First you don’t believe in foreplay, now this. (haha)
Let me put a few things in perspective. NOT ALL international students are rich. A lot of us work in excess of 15 hours a week just to pay off rent. I have a mate who works over 40 hours a week.
Have you ever thought, if you’re paying A$16K+ a year for fees, that their families have taken up bank loans, rescinded their retiree fund and had saved for years?
That, is my case. I work 4 shifts a week, live on several hundred dollars a month but find the experience not only invigorating, but life-fulfilling. It’s experiences like these that make you appreciate life more. I can’t speak for the rich ones (who’re a dime a dozen i’ve to admit) though.
I’m currently campaigning for the position of editor for RMIT Union’s student magazine Catalyst for 2007. One of my agenda - if elected - would be to iron out the misunderstandings and ‘fear’ of international students. For far too long foreign students have been pigeon-holed, villified and pegged as rich folks who come into an Anglo-Scot culture and stick to themselves. They don’t speak any English, they do not try to assimilate and they’re introverted. Not true.
No one is speaking up for them. No one is bridging the disparities between locals and foreigners. When that happens, we get people like Neil, who make random passes and snide remarks like how ‘an extra $1 wouldn’t hurt’ or ‘Concessions should be given based if you are poor.’
Btw, going by your argument, shouldn’t kids with a silver spoon background pay full fares too? Why are there rich kids hailing from Hawthorn and Toorak paying concession fares then?
Um, like I said, I was an international student. I too held a job while going to school and took out loans out which I am still paying. I would have been greatful for concession on the trams but I don’t expect it.
I’m not saying international students on a whole are rich just not poor. College square and unilodge are mostly filled with international students. They charge a bundle more for a lot less.
As I said before, I think only the people who don’t have the money should get concession. That would also include the locals, sure. So yes, rich South Yarra and Toorak people should not be given concession either.
As for the international students, it all depends on the person. Some will stay with “their own”, not try and assimilate and are generally introverted. But there are just as many doing the opposite.
I have no empathy for people who don’t want to pay x amount for a product. If you think the tram is too much take the bus, bike, or just don’t pay. Boo f’n hoo, if you don’t have money for something (other then basic essentials) then don’t use or do it.
Personally I have found the public transport system in Melbourne to be very good. Although my experience is probably different to most people. I live near the city and work in the suburbs. I take a bus everyday, it goes the length of the eastern freeway in about 15 minutes and pretty much drops me at the door of where I work. As I am going against peak traffic the bus only has a handful of people in it. A monthly full price zone 1 & 2 costs me $150 a month. I find this more than reasonable and reckon if I drove a car it would cost me more than that a month. On top of that in the weekends I usually make at least 4 trips on trams and buses on the same ticket.
Also the journey planner on the Metlink web site is fantastic and makes it very simple for me work out how to go from one place to another.
One thing I have noticed is many inner city people are unaware of the buses. From what I have experienced buses full in the gaps where the trams and trains don’t go very well.
Taking a tram between 2 adjacent suburbs is pure laziness, it is behaviour like this which contributes to the obesity problem in this country. I see people taking buses and trams for just a couple of stops all the time. I would be embarrassed to do this myself.
In my humble opinion the fact that international students have to pay full price for public transport is ridiculous and should be an embarrassment to all Australians.
There is no excuse for fare evading.
BTW, Ride to Work day (via bicycle) is October 4. There is a free breakfast at Fed Square as well as other places around Victoria (including my work :)).
http://www.bv.com.au/join-us/126/
I like the card for the other uses like a ticket to an event, a pre-paid credit card or for a coffee. I also think that in a bus there would be two points of entry, one at the front (wich includes buying tickets) and one at the back ( for people with ticket and might include a way to see your balance) reducing queues