[Greens-Media] QLD GREENS MEDIA RELEASE: Demand for buses will continue to rise

[Qld Greens Media]

QLD GREENS MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 13^th September 2006



*Demand for buses will continue to rise*

Demand for bus seats in Brisbane will continue to rise and the Brisbane 
City Council and state government should be planning for continued 
demand beyond current shortfalls according to The Greens.

Greens spokesperson, Juanita Wheeler said revelations that potential 
public transport commuters were being left stranded at over 300 bus 
stops as a result of overcrowding was a damning indictment of the 
government’s failure to invest in public transport infrastructure in a 
timely manner.

“The Greens have been calling for a dramatic increase to public 
transport infrastructure for twenty years, yet our calls went unheeded 
and this is the result,” Ms Wheeler said.

The Greens say the increased demand for public transport presents a 
wonderful opportunity to get Brisbane residents out of their cars and 
onto more environmentally friendly public transport.

“Governments must do everything possible to encourage people to make the 
switch, and that means ensuring that no one is left stranded at bus 
stops because of inadequate investment in this critical public 
infrastructure.”



The Greens say it is essential that funding be immediately injected into 
public transport infrastructure to not only address the current 
shortfall, but in anticipation of ongoing growth in demand.

“With ever increasing petrol prices, increasing ecological awareness and 
growing concern for health and obesity, the increasing demand for public 
transport will continue to grow.”

The Greens say public transport should be prioritised over projects such 
as the Hale Street Bridge.

“Even the Council’s very conservative estimate of the cost of the bridge 
is almost double the Council’s annual expenditure on bus services for 
the entire city.”

“We need a public transport infrastructure plan with vision and funding 
to match, to ensure we are not just applying band-aid solutions to meet 
the current shortfall, but building public infrastructure to carry 
Brisbane into the 21^st century.”





*-ENDS-*

For further information please contact:

Juanita Wheeler

Spokesperson, Queensland Greens



National Convenor, Australian Greens

Mobile: 0402 487 110



www.qld.greens.org.au

State election Spokesperson. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110

Queensland Greens media spokespeople.

Climate Change and Indigenous. Drew Hutton 0428 487 110
Human Rights and Environment. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110
Transport and Planning. Greg George 0424 725 719

Queensland Greens campaign coordinator.
Ian Gittus 0422 542 370

Office 3846 0862
fax 3844 4654

www.qld.greens.org.au