Money well spent? Or just complete crap?

Started by Ed, December 22, 2010, 12:44:19 AM

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Ed

Article from Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/out-of-the-blue-an-illusion-of-more-buses-all-dressed-alike-20101221-194gk.html

QuoteOut of the blue, an illusion of more buses, all dressed alike
Alexandra Smith STATE POLITICS
December 22, 2010

NOT all buses are equal, but they will all begin to look the same if the state government has its way.

Transport NSW wants private operators to paint their new buses sky blue and use the state's waratah emblem to make all metropolitan buses look alike.

In a letter this week to BusNSW, the industry group for private buses, the acting director-general of Transport NSW, John Karaboulis, said the government planned to pursue ''a common livery and the benefits it brings''.

Advertisement: Story continues below However, Gladys Berejiklian, the opposition spokeswoman for transport, said: ''The government is more about creating the illusion of more buses on the road than providing better service.''

The private bus industry is concerned that the chosen colour scheme will ''blend with the sky'' making it difficult for passengers to see a bus from a distance and confuse commuters.

BusNSW's executive director, Darryl Mellish, said the government should concentrate on electronic ticketing and developing integrated networks rather than improving the appearance of buses.

''BusNSW acknowledges that most private bus operators have built brand identity ... and would be reluctant to change without demonstrated public benefit,'' he wrote in a discussion paper.

The government would pay for the paint job but Mr Mellish said it could also be liable for compensation if the waratah took up advertising space on the back or side of a bus.

Private operators were also wary about linking their buses to an unpopular state government.

The discussion paper raised potential union issues.

''With private bus drivers covered by the Transport Workers Union and government drivers covered by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, there could be a push to align wages and conditions,'' Mr Mellish said.

Ms Berejiklian said the government should be more concerned about providing frequent and reliable buses than aesthetics.

But a spokeswoman for the Transport Minister, John Robertson, said the new livery would make it easier for commuters to identify public transport.

''Just as the MyZone ticketing system brought all privately and publicly operated buses under a single fare structure and ticketing system, the new livery will make our bus fleet easier to spot and easier to use,'' she said.

Money well spent? Or just complete crap?
Personally I would go for the latter.

Snorzac

It seems to work for Translink (Brisbane). It also appears to have already started on some of the new STA bendys:
http://busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=56503

Sir Pompously

People will hail a bus no matter what the colour of it is (Even though I am a fan of uniformity, it is just a waste of money in this sense).

ajw373

It would be a waste of money if they went out and did a wholesale repaint. However it is no such thing if it is mandated for all new vehicles or for any repaints that would have been done anyway.

CNG

that is a load of crap, private operators deserve their own identity.

ajw373

Guess now they are operating on government contracts and using vehicles being brought out of the public purse they have lost the right to have their own identity on these service. Sure have their own identity on non contract services, but on contract cannot see the issue.

Indeed living in London (returning for good in 6 weeks after 4 years here) I see this on a daily basis with all London operators bar one using or moving to a 100% full red livery. Go Ahead is still keeping a dark grey skirt.