Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Sydney Buses: improvements seriously needed

The problem is, they are just too slow. I don't mean the traffic or the condition of the buses - some are brand new! It's the current process of boarding passengers which is the reason why they are so slow.

Those ticket dipping machines on the buses are a pain in the butt to use. If you've got a travelpass why can't you show it to the driver instead of putting it in the stupid machine? Would be so much faster! Even two of those machines on a bus doesn't speed up the boarding process when there are so many passengers waiting to board at peak times.

And what about those passengers who pay cash fares? They also delay the boarding process. Someone ought to tell State Transit about Oyster technology.

And what about those passengers who pay cash fares? They also delay the boarding process. Someone ought to tell State Transit about Oyster technology.

Hahahaha. (Not laughing at you, just laughing at Sydney's smartcard implementation).

They've been trying to implement it for years I believe. One of the original implementation dates was for completion end 2002.

http://www.tcard.com.au/ is the website for the implementation - latest update seems to fully implemented by end 2007.

See also http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/20/1045638426685.html for some background reading if you're interested.

The reason for having to insert the current magstrip card into the machine is so that it records all trips and correctly validate's the cards use. Proximity Smartcards (Eg Oyster, EzyLink, Octopus in various countries) do the same thing, but dont require to be physically inserted in the machine. Same technology, different implementations.

Yes our public transport is a joke! But I have seen a bus driving around with advertising on it "Making travel faster you can not buy tickets on this bus". If you told our State Government about Oyster technology they would think you are talking about an aphrodisiac :D

The problem is, they are just too slow. I don't mean the traffic or the condition of the buses - some are brand new! It's the current process of boarding passengers which is the reason why they are so slow.

Those ticket dipping machines on the buses are a pain in the butt to use. If you've got a travelpass why can't you show it to the driver instead of putting it in the stupid machine? Would be so much faster! Even two of those machines on a bus doesn't speed up the boarding process when there are so many passengers waiting to board at peak times.

And what about those passengers who pay cash fares? They also delay the boarding process. Someone ought to tell State Transit about Oyster technology.

If you think the buses are slow I hope you didn't try the trains. Sydney is the only city in the world I have been to that has double deck metro trains. Takes and age for people to get on and off.

If you think the buses are slow I hope you didn't try the trains. Sydney is the only city in the world I have been to that has double deck metro trains. Takes and age for people to get on and off.
Add Toronto to your list.

If you've got a travelpass why can't you show it to the driver instead of putting it in the stupid machine?

If I am not mistaken, it's because there are different types of passes, and not all offer unlimited rides. Not a hassle in my opinion.

The slightest fold or crease and those magic cards won't work in the machines and you HAVE to show it to the driver. Going to a counter and asking for a replacement card with the same expiration appears to be a non-starter -- they write a code number on it which means "this card is damaged" and then hand it back to you.

Could be worse--or at least equal. Try the US sometime. Most systems have no card technology at all, and most of the ones that do (including NY!) are of the "dip the strip" variety.

The UK seems to actually be one of the more enlightened places when it comes to transit smart-cards, so you're bound to be disappointed most everywhere else. :p

If you think the buses are slow I hope you didn't try the trains. Sydney is the only city in the world I have been to that has double deck metro trains. Takes and age for people to get on and off.

Also Paris.

If you think the buses are slow I hope you didn't try the trains. Sydney is the only city in the world I have been to that has double deck metro trains. Takes and age for people to get on and off.

add Barcelona also

Also Paris.
Paris??? I could have sworn they weren't...maybe I just wasn't paying attention...

Paris??? I could have sworn they weren't...maybe I just wasn't paying attention...

I am with you I thought Paris one level. But I was very drunk so I don’t remember much :D

I am with you I thought Paris one level. But I was very drunk so I don’t remember much :D I caught a double-deck train from Gare du Nord to CDG in Feb 2002. Not sure if they still run them. The dutch have double deck suburban trains as well.

Dave

I caught a double-deck train from Gare du Nord to CDG in Feb 2002. Not sure if they still run them.

Double decker RER trains don't run between CDG and Gare du Nord but they do run on other lines.

Double decker RER trains don't run between CDG and Gare du Nord but they do run on other lines. I think it was Gare du Nord - I had just arrived in Paris by Thalys from Brussels, and jumped straight onto a train to CDG. Absolutely POSITIVE it was double deck (and I was sober at the time) - I remember contrasting it with Sydney's double deck carriages.

Dave

Two weeks ago SydneyBusses installed the new prepaid only service 333 Circular
Quay (city) to Bondi Beach. They accept different prepaid ticket formats, my good
ol'mechanical Travelten Red also works. On weekends that makes the ride quite
a bit faster but during weekday rush hour, the difference is minor as the tix
still have to be inspected by one of the machines and the busses call on many
stops.
Bus services in Sydney's traffic just seem to be doomed as the OP experienced.

Two weeks ago SydneyBusses installed the new prepaid only service 333 Circular
Quay (city) to Bondi Beach.

They are calling it the "Bondi Bendy"...I think because its one of those long buses.

They are calling it the "Bondi Bendy"...I think because its one of those long buses.
It is a hinged bus. And it's painted in a somewhat less ugly fashion (sometimes) than
the roaring standard busses. But that pretty much sums it up.
Haven't heard the 'Bendy' moniker though ;) .

It is a hinged bus. And it's painted in a somewhat less ugly fashion (sometimes) than
the roaring standard busses. But that pretty much sums it up.
Haven't heard the 'Bendy' moniker though ;) .

From the horses mouth (http://www.131500.com.au/servicechanges/service_changes_article.asp?item_id=22002) :)

From the horses mouth (http://www.131500.com.au/servicechanges/service_changes_article.asp?item_id=22002) :)
Never doubted your word bensyd - just have used the slow thingie upon
a few occasions and haven't read that bendy name so far ;) .