I am a member of the PTUA.

Issues I have with public transport in Melbourne:

• Unscheduled delays with a number of different causes. e.g.
  • major projects.
  • bad connections between services.
  • single track lines.
  • road works.
• Scheduled delays:
  • Poor frequency of service.
  • Routes that are anything but direct.
  • Routes that have no service on public holidays and Sundays.
  • Routes that don't exist. For example, there are no direct links between where I live and Monash University, Clayton campus.
• overcrowding
• Lack of communication if something abnormal occurs.
• No motivation to improve the system by the operators.
• Inability to cope with disabled passengers. If a high floor bus comes, and it it normally a low floor bus, disabled passengers can't get on. Some bus drivers will try to assist by getting the bus company to send another bus or arrange a ticket fare, other drivers don't consider it their problem. Even if the passenger is a regular.

The media repeatedly reports that we have a "love affair" with the car. I disagree. The reason most people choose to use a car on a regular basis is because they don't like the state of public transport, or can't use it to reach their destination.

We need to improve public transport, and encourage its use. The alternative, private car use, has serious disadvantages:

• Accidents.
• Time/money spent maintaining the car.
• Money spent on maintaining roads is considerable.
• Money spent on creating more and more car parks is considerable.
• Time/money/health effects of traffic jams.
• Supply of fuel is running out.
• Fuel costs are going up.
• Road rage.
• For more details see my private transport category.

As such I much prefer using public transport where possible.

For more details, see my public transport category.

More information on Melbourne's trains is available.