Page 28 - Tropic Magazine Issue 31

TROPIC • SPECIAL FEATURE
Tropic
experiment
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
As the population increases
and roads become further
congested, the Tropic team
decided to find out why
more people don’t take public
transport during peak hour.
We put the city’s public
transport system to the test,
with each team member
experiencing it for themselves
for their morning commute to
work. Coming from all corners
of the city to Tropic HQ in
Parramatta Park, buses were
the only option, which led to
some interesting rides
and results.
Route 111
(50min)
Route 123 Route 131/140
(3+hrs) (55min)
CBD
Tropic HQ
Route 133/141
(60min)
Route 143
(45min)
DEPARTURE
NORTHERN BEACHES
Route Bus 111 (Smithfield to Cairns The scheduling also meant that if I
Central) missed that bus, subsequent routes
Cost $4 one way included either a second bus, or a
How long it took About 50min
30-minute walk upon arrival.
(including about 15min walking time) The bus was on time, I paid with coins
Travel time in a private car At that (luckily, I had heard buses in Cairns
time of the morning, 25min aren’t yet cashless) and received my
I opted to take the 6.40am bus from a ticket. There were only about five
other people onboard. I was thankful
stop that wasn’t closest to my house that given the walking to and from
to take advantage of the direct route stops, it was winter and the weather
and therefore, length of commute. was cool. I made it to work a good
If I’d left any later, I would not have hour ahead of start time.
made it to work on time.
DEPARTURE
SOUTHSIDE
Route Bus 143 (White Rock to The bus arrived one minute late. This
Parramatta Park) was my exhange with the driver:
Cost $3 one way Me: Good morning, I’ve never caught
How long it took About 45min the bus in Cairns before, so I don’t
Travel time in a private car 15min know what to do!
Driver: *laughing* Well you give me
I started walking at 7am and was money and tell me where you
grateful the morning was cool and want to go
quiet, not raining. After a five-minute Me: *laughs* Okay, I want to go to
walk (Translink estimated eight Parramatta Park and how much money
minutes), I arrived at my bus stop. do I give you?
It was relatively intact with a bit of Driver: Lots! *laughs* That will be
rubbish lying around. three dollars
I did, however, notice that if I had been Me: And how do I pay that?
in a wheelchair, I would have had to Driver: Cash … Yeah, we’re not in the
drive along the road to another path 21st century in Cairns yet
because when I crossed the street, I genuinely felt transported to being
there was no ramp on the other side. a teenager again when I received that
paper ticket.