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🇦🇺 Australia /Economy & Trade

Overcrowded Brisbane buses prompt calls for 'pop-up' lanes

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Brisbane bus commuters face overcrowding and long waits, with some lining up 30 minutes before buses arrive.
  • Increased patronage since a fare reduction has exacerbated crowding, as bus numbers have not increased.
  • Advocacy groups propose pop-up bus lanes and T2/T3 lanes to improve reliability and frequency.

Kathy de Leon, a 59-year-old commuter, begins her wait for the bus about 30 minutes before its scheduled arrival. If she misses this early window, she faces a 45-minute journey from Brisbane's CBD to Park Ridge in Logan while standing, a physically demanding prospect.

I arrive at the bus stop around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and by the time the bus arrives at 3:30PM the line is about 20 to 25 metres long.

— Kathy de LeonA Brisbane commuter describes the long queues for buses during peak hours.

"I arrive at the bus stop around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and by the time the bus arrives at 3:30PM the line is about 20 to 25 metres long," she said, describing the queues that form even before the bus reaches the first city stop. "That's just the first stop, and you have two other stops in the city and then a main stop."

People increased, but our buses didn't increase, so our buses are more packed and busier because we don't have any extra buses.

— Kathy de LeonA Brisbane commuter explains the cause of increased bus crowding.

De Leon noted that buses have become significantly more crowded during peak hours since the introduction of 50-cent fares in 2024. "People increased, but our buses didn't increase, so our buses are more packed and busier because we don't have any extra buses," she explained. The infrequent service, with buses arriving only every 30 minutes, further compounds the issue.

pop-up bus lanes could be implemented relatively quickly and would make a big difference.

— Dr. Matthew BurkeBicycle Queensland's chief executive proposes a solution to improve bus services.

Buses are Queensland's primary public transport, with patronage rising 17 percent year-on-year. However, transport advocacy groups argue that a decade of underinvestment has led to unreliable and overcrowded services during peak times. They are calling for dedicated bus and bike lanes on major southeast Queensland roads during certain hours to enhance reliability and frequency. Bicycle Queensland chief executive Dr. Matthew Burke suggested that "pop-up bus lanes could be implemented relatively quickly and would make a big difference." The Queensland Bus Industry Council's executive director, Jason O'Dwyer, supported the idea, noting that "it's a good net return for taxpayers because it's a bit of paint and a few enforcement cameras."

It's a good net return for taxpayers because it's a bit of paint and a few enforcement cameras.

— Jason O'DwyerThe Queensland Bus Industry Council's executive director supports the idea of pop-up bus lanes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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