Public Transport Users Association

The Public Transport Users Association is a community-based public transport lobby group in Victoria, Australia, based in Melbourne. It is run entirely by volunteers and has no full-time staff.

History and aims

The organisation was founded in 1976 as the Train Travellers Association, and became prominent after the controversial Lonie Report recommended huge freeway expansion and closure of most public passenger transport in the city.

The Association advocates a greater role for public transport and less dependence on the private car. Key PTUA policies include:

  • A publicly accountable authority to provide co-ordinated planning and management of train, tram and bus services,
  • The favouring of sustainable transport modes over cars, through appropriate urban planning decisions, and taxation and transport project resource allocations,
  • Opposition to major road expansion such as the building of new freeways,
  • More frequent public transport services, longer operating hours and better connections between modes,
  • Expansion of the train, tram, and bus networks,
  • More staffing at stations and on trains/trams,
  • Fares that ensure public transport is competitive with car travel.

Of particular interest to the Association are potential extensions to Melbourne's metropolitan rail network, particularly lines to Doncaster, Rowville (via Monash University's Clayton Campus) and Melbourne Airport, a reorganisation of the bus network, including more routes being upgraded to SmartBus status,[1] and filling in so-called tram "missing links", by the construction of modest extensions to the tram network that will ensure that routes terminate at nearby railway stations, bus routes and activity centres.[2]

Achievements

The PTUA successfully campaigned for extended New Year's Day public transport hours in 2004,[3] and that has been continued by the state government in subsequent years. They also successfully lobbied for the extension of the 109 tram to Box Hill in Melbourne's east. [4] In 2008, the organisation successfully lobbied against the controversial proposal to ban bikes on trains during peak hour, gaining significant media attention.[5] The Association maintains a high media profile, publishes a regular newsletter for members, operates an office in Melbourne, and has branches in Geelong[6] and Ballarat.[7]

The current president is Dr Tony Morton, who succeeded Daniel Bowen in October 2012.

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References
  1. "Policies: Extending the network". Public Transport Users Association. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  2. Carey, Adam (6 March 2013). "Lobby urges tram extensions to avoid dead-end trips". The Age. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  3. How Melbourne got all-night NYE public transport YouTube video 03:23 in length
  4. "PTUA Achievements". Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. "BICYCLES TO BE BANNED FROM PEAK HOUR TRAINS". Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. "Geelong Branch". Public Transport Users Association. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  7. "PTUA Ballarat Branch". Public Transport Users Association. Retrieved 23 October 2016.


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