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[TAS] Free Public Bus Travel for Five Weeks from Tasmanian Government

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[TAS] Free Public Bus Travel for Five Weeks from Tasmanian Government
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Clear on 22/03/2022 - 11:39 premier.tas.gov.au (752 clicks)
Last edited 22/03/2022 - 11:43

With the increasingly high prices of fuel, the Tasmanian Government have announced that all public bus transport services will be free from the 28th of March to the end of April. This includes school buses and all general use buses from all the public bus companies, like Metro and Merseylink.

If you ride a bicycle or scooter and live on Hobart's eastern shore then I'd recommend checking out the free Derwent ferry that can help maximise savings.

However with this special incentive, this means an adult travelling on a Metro urban zone 1 trip will save $5.60 a day. Travellers from Sorell to Hobart can save $15.20 on a return trip, those travelling from Westbury to Launceston will pocket a benefit worth $22.80 and from Port Sorell to Devonport $27.80 for return trips.

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closed Comments

  • SnowDragon on 22/03/2022 - 11:47
    +10

    Hobart has the highest price of petrol out of all of the capitals 💪

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 11:48
      +5

      $231.9 in Blackmans Bay!

      • kev98 on 22/03/2022 - 12:26
        +20

        $231 a litre is crazy! Only around $2.20 on the mainland

        • tessel on 22/03/2022 - 14:03
          +2

          And $2.19 in NW Tas only 400km from Hobart. Crazier.

          • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 14:13
            +1

            @tessel: There's a few United doing 213.9 according to the fuel tracking sites. Combine with RACT 6c discount and it's even better.

          • Chazzozz on 22/03/2022 - 16:02
            +1

            @tessel: According to the RACT Fuel Tracker the best pump price I can find in Launceston is the Independent Petroleum outlet in Invermay at $2.09/L for U91 ($2.279/L for U98). The United in Invermay is $2.149/L for U91 so would work out a cent cheaper with the 6¢ RACT discount ($2.369 for U98).

            The best place around here would be Legana, where the U91 price is normally $2.169/L but will give a 12¢ discount with RACT between 6pm-6am. The Independent outlet in Westbury is often 2¢-3¢ cheaper than in town, so is also a good alternative if you live to the west of Launceston.

      • bargaino on 22/03/2022 - 17:42
        -3

        Thats racist and sexist. Rename it Indigenouspersons Bay.

        • 1st-Amendment on 24/03/2022 - 11:20
          -1

          Thats racist and sexist. Rename it Indigenouspersons Bay.

          That is also sexist, rename it Indigenousperchilds Bay.

          :)

      • MildMethod on 23/03/2022 - 11:49

        You mean 231.9 cents I assume?

        www.fuelcheck.tas.gov.au is a good site to monitor.

    • gimli on 22/03/2022 - 12:00

      The chopper makes everything equal

      • Jumpingmanjim on 22/03/2022 - 12:08
        +3

        No 7/11 in tasmania, only 9/11

        • gimli on 22/03/2022 - 12:15
          +1

          Yeah i guess its only australia wide lock in anyways

        • LeifAlbor on 22/03/2022 - 16:55

          Immediately heard 9/11's jingle in my head as soon as I read that comment.

  • Drakesy on 22/03/2022 - 11:50
    +10

    That's a very non-liberal policy.

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:01
      +11

      Up until the borders reopened both sides were very supportive of our Moderate Liberal Premier. Him and Scomo hate each other lol.

      • gimli on 22/03/2022 - 12:15
        +14

        I think everyone hates scomo scum

        • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:23
          +7

          This is true. It's just good to have a leader who has a history of crossing the floor on votes when he disagreed with the party's decisions instead of blindly following them.

          • gimli on 22/03/2022 - 12:25
            +4

            @Clear: Agree. Good to have a leader who does whats good rather than playing to party politics
            P.s. Will you ever leave Tas or u settled there?

            • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 13:19

              @gimli: I have previously lived in VIC.

    • iseeyou1312 on 22/03/2022 - 12:17
      +4

      They're looking at what just happened in South Australia and getting very scared lol.

      • gimli on 22/03/2022 - 12:18

        Im not scared

      • ctg on 22/03/2022 - 14:47

        What’d I miss? Aside from already high electricity costs I assume?

        • kerfuffle on 22/03/2022 - 14:52
          +7

          Liberal Premier got voted out after one term of government.

    • Piranha2004 on 22/03/2022 - 15:57

      This. Was pleasantly surprised by this. Its a great initiative. Hopefully it gets a few people taking it up.

    • LeifAlbor on 22/03/2022 - 17:08
      +4

      Thankfully the Liberals in Tasmania are reasonably moderate and progressive, and Gutwein himself seems to usually act with integrity - because the ALP have been an absolute shitshow in Tasmania for the last 12 years.

  • Fergy1987 on 22/03/2022 - 11:52
    +5

    Maybe they can fix the high price of the car hire too. Ridiculous prices. NEG ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • DemocracyManifest on 22/03/2022 - 12:58

      Yeah absolutely cooked

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 13:20
      +1

      Not subsidised by the government so the monopolies can exploit it.

      • life is suffering on 22/03/2022 - 13:22

        Car hires are subsidized ?

        • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 13:29

          I don't believe so. Buses are hence why this can happen.

    • muncan on 22/03/2022 - 13:50
      +1

      Agreed, just booked 7 days for $1084 in a toy car.

    • Chazzozz on 22/03/2022 - 16:05
      +3

      This is also influenced by the fact a lot of car hire places sold off nearly half their fleets in 2020-21, so demand is outstripping supply. When I drive past the Launceston airport the hire places are often near empty.

    • 1st-Amendment on 24/03/2022 - 11:26
      -4

      Maybe they can fix the high price of the car hire too.

      Why don't you fix it? What is stopping you from starting a hire car company with more competitive pricing?

      • Fergy1987 on 24/03/2022 - 11:30

        I dont live in Tasmania for one.

        • 1st-Amendment on 24/03/2022 - 11:31
          -2

          I dont live in Tasmania for one.

          Do they have a law that says only residents can run a hire car company?

  • WookieMonster on 22/03/2022 - 11:53
    +1

    Fingers crossed the buses actually turn up (and somewhere near on time)! The number of times I’ve waited in the bus mall for a bus to turn up and it never did… or it left 5 minutes early just because… or it turned up 15 minutes late…

    • SnowDragon on 22/03/2022 - 12:05

      They are struggling to find staff that don't have the 'rona. You'd think eventually it would sweep through them all and things will be back to "normal" for Metro.

      • NedStark102 on 22/03/2022 - 12:07
        +5

        This is just typical metro pre-Covid - always a dice roll as to whether your bus will turn up on time, 10-30 minutes late, or not at all.

        • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:19

          When I was at Uni they planned industrial action on the day of my exams. Welp no buses to go to Uni then.

  • Limbot on 22/03/2022 - 11:55
    +1

    Don't forget your mask and hand sanitiser :)

    • ctg on 22/03/2022 - 14:51
      +5

      Tit for tat. Taxis and uber drivers don’t reduce congestion on the roads, so there is an upside to the static routes buses travel.

    • Savas on 22/03/2022 - 17:34

      I think the point of this deal is to reduce the demand for petrol if everyone jumps on the bus.

    • greatlamp on 28/03/2022 - 07:10

      Taxi and uber passengers aren't going to start taking the bus now. Taking the bus was already cheaper.

  • romaau on 22/03/2022 - 12:09

    Not necessarily. As if transport network is not extensive, people may still be catching an Uber/Taxi to or from the bus.
    Haven’t caught public transport in Hobart, but have caught and Uber from train stations in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:18
      +6

      Public transport in Tassie is not as extensive as you think. I'd certainly not be comparing it to Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. The buses don't go everywhere, there's no trains or trams and Uber is only in select towns/cities.

      • DemocracyManifest on 22/03/2022 - 13:03

        The no trains or trams/light rail thing is really bizarre for a capital city. Though here is evidence the buses go somewhere 😂 https://youtu.be/OytlO-EVIdU

        • WookieMonster on 22/03/2022 - 15:19
          +3

          If you don’t have a car in Hobart, you’re in for a rough time.

          There used to be trolley buses and trams in Hobart, but they were removed in the 1960s. You can still see evidence of where the old tram tracks used to be if you walk around the Hobart waterfront.

          Trains also use to run on Hobart’s western shore (the side of the Derwent with the Hobart CBD), but passenger trains ended in the 1970s (I think) and the old train station in Hobart now houses the ABC. Freight trains pretty much stopped running through Hobart’s western shore in the early 2010s when a new freight hub was set up in Brighton (in the northern part of Greater Hobart and north of the vast majority of people living in Hobart). The disused train tracks are still in place, and there have been a number of proposals over the years to implement light rail along them, even though there’s only one set of tracks most of the way! There also used to be trains that ran from Bellerive towards the airport, but that was abandoned in the 1920s, IIRC…

          You can probably start to understand why a lot of Hobart is built around having access to a car.

          • DemocracyManifest on 22/03/2022 - 18:47

            @WookieMonster: What are taxis like down there? I assume there’s plenty considering

            • WookieMonster on 22/03/2022 - 20:20
              +2

              @DemocracyManifest: Taxis and ridesharing vehicles exist in Hobart, but I don't think they're plentiful and they're not exactly cheap.

              I just checked the Uber app, and I can only see two vehicles in my area. I asked a mate of mine in Canberra, and they could see eight Uber vehicles near them, and I can imagine a large place like Sydney would have a lot more Ubers in the same given area. Anecdotally, I do notice a few more taxis around the shopping centres, but I guess it is expected to see taxis around a shopping centre, as some people use them to go to the shops (particularly if bus services to their area are infrequent or non-existent). I don't necessarily see a lot of taxis when driving out and about, so I doubt me noticing more taxis at a shopping centre is really worth noting.

              My guess is that a massive barrier for a lot of people in Tasmania to using taxis and Ubers is cost. Three things to keep in mind are:

              The state government actually has a taxi subsidy program that makes taxis more affordable for particular segments of the population. (After some quick Googling, it looks like other states and territories have this scheme too.)

              • SnowDragon on 29/03/2022 - 09:47

                @WookieMonster: While we're talking about Hobart, how do you think traffic can ever be fixed in the city?

                The government continually has band-aid projects like adding four lanes to the outlet. The problem is not the outlet, the problem is that everyone has to go through the middle of the city.

                I believe the only way to fix it is for the government to actually invest billions into an underground rail system. Light rail from Kingston to the city to Bridgewater would actually make people ditch their cars instead of "early birds travel free on metro!" schemes.

                Unfortunately it will never happen - it took long enough for the airport roundabout to be addressed.

        • barcer on 23/03/2022 - 18:37

          Capital city, but smaller than all of: Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Wollongong, and Geelong.

          Other than Gold Coast, none of them really have an indepdent rail or light rail system, just an extension of their nearby capital's system. I guess you could argue that the Newcastle light rail is an independent system, but it's really just a replacement for the Wickham-Newcastle section of the heavy rail between Newcastle and Sydney, which the NSW Goverment removed a few years ago.

        • 1st-Amendment on 24/03/2022 - 11:28

          The no trains or trams/light rail thing is really bizarre for a capital city. T

          Not really. Urban public transport infrastructure is generally a function of size and density, neither of which Hobart has.

      • barcer on 23/03/2022 - 18:39

        Of course Hobart has less than 10% of the population of Brisbane and less than 5% of the populations of Sydney or Melbourne.The closest comparable city is probably Townsville, which has a very medicore bus service.

    • LloydGSR on 22/03/2022 - 13:36
      +4

      I'm 35km from the centre of Hobart, the nearest bus stop is a bit over 9km away.

      • DemocracyManifest on 22/03/2022 - 14:09

        Holy cow

      • retailsaver on 22/03/2022 - 20:53

        Which suburb is this?

        • Ozpit on 27/03/2022 - 09:22

          Don’t you mean which regional town?

  • romaau on 22/03/2022 - 12:10
    +3

    Sounds like a great initiative, hopefully they have marketed it well.
    They should do this in other cities. Will get plenty of cars off the road.

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:17
      -1

      Plastered all over the local media outlets (that's how I know).

    • SimbaGirl on 31/03/2022 - 09:27

      There's no problem with the marketing, they're all over that, but the problem is they can't deliver. In the three days since this started, there have been around 230 trips cancelled by Metro Bus in Hobart and Launceston, a number of which were entire routes, due to lack of drivers because of COVID and other illnesses. The cancellations are increasing each day, with 111 of those being today. That's not counting cancelled trips by other bus operators, such as Tassielink, who service regional areas.

      I live 35km from Hobart, and we have Tassielink services, fares were almost $20/day and the timetable really didn't fit in with my work hours at all, so I always drive to work. When the free service was announced, I looked into it again but worked out that it will add over 1.5 hours to my commute time each day, including waiting for the next bus service at the end of the day, and the trip itself can take up to twice as long as it takes me to drive the same distance. They also often run late despite the driver's best efforts due to traffic and weather, especially in winter. I would also lose the convenience of having the car, as I often do grocery shopping etc on the way home to save having to make another trip (you have to plan this sort of stuff when you live in rural areas). If the trip is cancelled for any reason, it's not like there'll be another bus coming along soon!

      I work part-time, thank goodness, so at least I'm not driving in 5 days a week, but although the free bus service is a good concept, it's just not practical for a lot of people and with the increasing number of cancelled services this week alone, many won't be able to make use of it anyway.

  • FDA2021 on 22/03/2022 - 12:10
    +1

    Can't you catch the school busses for free? In NSW, the government pays for bus or train travel within school hours

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:16
      +1

      Some buses are free and some may charge a fair. Depends if it's a big company like Metro or a more independent bus driver. Some people are eligible concessions and free passes.

      • FDA2021 on 22/03/2022 - 12:17

        Ah okay, thanks

    • zelliot on 22/03/2022 - 12:42
      +3

      We moved from NSW to Tas. The lack of free school buses/passes for my kids was a shock.

    • LeifAlbor on 22/03/2022 - 17:04
      +3

      Nope, free travel on school busses are limited to low income earners (basically anyone with a Centrelink health care card). I pay $50+ a week for my 3 kids to get to and from school

  • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 22/03/2022 - 12:35

    $15.20…that's nearly double what we pay for a day's access to all of Melbourne's network. How do the locals afford living there?

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 12:42

      We drive. Get the early bird all day parking for like $7 😉

      • Yorkshire-Man on 22/03/2022 - 13:06

        Early bird in my office in Sydney is $42 p/d. Full price is $85.

        • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 15:58
          -1

          Reminiscent of when I lived in Melbourne. In some places I think you're paying $20 here now.

      • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 22/03/2022 - 15:53

        Not great for students or those on low incomes, especially with the inflated house prices.

        • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 15:57
          +1

          Hobart is now the most expensive city in Australia for inflated house prices. With the free buses for 5 weeks, Beam/Neuron rental scooters and private scooters legalised there's certainly a lot of alternatives for students in Tassie now.

      • SimbaGirl on 31/03/2022 - 09:30

        Blimey, where are you getting that? Are you in Launnie or Hobart? The cheapest we've found is $10 (and that car park has practically no spots available now, as they're almost all reserved for monthly subs). Next cheapest was $14. .

  • DemocracyManifest on 22/03/2022 - 13:01

    Good timing, I’ll be there then

  • Chicken Kyiv on 22/03/2022 - 13:27
    -4

    isnt Tassie small enough to walk around?

    • Circly on 22/03/2022 - 13:53

      It's small but not that small. Also it's got lots of hills so walking is slower.

    • ctg on 22/03/2022 - 14:54

      As someone who has walked many Ks down there (hikes), you’re correct! It’ll just take… longer.

    • Limbot on 22/03/2022 - 15:06

      Yep

      • LeifAlbor on 22/03/2022 - 17:10

        Shouldn't count - didn't include the south west wilderness. Go back and do it again.

    • Savas on 22/03/2022 - 17:36

      Hilarious joke.. not sure why you were downvoted.

    • bargaino on 22/03/2022 - 17:45
      +1

      I'll bet the average commute is far shorter than in other states. So that helps.

      • Limbot on 22/03/2022 - 21:22
        +3

        Lived in "the country" on 5 acres. Moved closer to the Hobart city because the 20 minute commute was way too much. 🤣 When we were selling the place mentioned the travel time to it to a potential buyer from the mainland who said it took him that long to get out of his driveway. 😀

  • funeste on 22/03/2022 - 17:20
    +1

    Does this include the Mona ferry / Hobart Express?

    • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 17:37
      +2

      They're not considered public transport.

    • Limbot on 22/03/2022 - 21:22

      The Mona Romas are actually run by a contract company to Walshie.

      • Clear on 22/03/2022 - 21:37
        -1

        I love how cattle class has you sitting on cows and sheep.

  • tmcn85 on 22/03/2022 - 19:15

    “You will own nothing and be happy.”

  • Zapwap on 22/03/2022 - 22:14
    +7

    A developed country isn't a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transport.

    • IpGem on 22/03/2022 - 22:18

      Absolutely!

  • coolrunnings on 24/03/2022 - 15:22

    Does this include "areaconnect" services?
    I was thinking of flying to Hobart and hiking Frenchman's Cap. State-sponsored areaconnect transport would normally cost $55 each way…

  • the Unforgiven on 27/03/2022 - 12:59
    +1

    Do you know what the hardest thing is about catching a bus?

    Finding someone to throw it to you :p

    • Dreamcast on 28/03/2022 - 07:33

      Sorry, that was a terrible joke. Sorry to throw you under a bus.

      • the Unforgiven on 28/03/2022 - 16:06

        We used to have Superman throw the bus, but he has a stuffed back,
        so no-one can catch a bus now; we will just have to catch a train instead :p

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