A subsidised cab service for locals would be trialled in Byron under a strategy being considered by Byron Shire Council to help address the Shire’s transport challenges.
The strategy, which would require significant state government funding, was discussed at a recent Council-run public transport workshop.
The purpose of the workshop was to commence discussions among locals in relation to current and future public transport strategies, and to reach out to the state planning team.
Among the options discussed was a Council-run cab-style service that would be provided for residents over the age of 60, and/or for those with a disability.
The workshop heard that, for such a trial to succeed, it would need to be reasonably priced.
Council staff noted that the Gold Coast Council charges $2 per trip, or $4 for a return journey, and that local taxi company Byron Cabs had expressed an interest in being part of the trial.
It was noted that, as was the case with all the options considered in the workshop, the trial would be difficult to execute without significant support from the NSW government.
‘As this type of service would require a considerable amount of funding to subsidise the fares, staff are awaiting state advice to determine if there is an appropriate funding stream for this type of service,’ staff said.
The workshop also explored a park and ride option for Byron Bay, in which residents would drive to the Cavanbah Centre and then either get a shuttle bus or ride a hire bike into the town.
This was seen as a way of reducing traffic congestion and parking demand in the Bay.
‘Byron Bay would be a great case study for a trial scenario, considering current congestion issues at Ewingsdale Road and the parking demand within the town and along the beachfront,’ staff said.
Staff note that the Cavanbah Centre would be an ideal location for such a facility.
There was also talk of an electric scooter trial, but this was not supported by staff because of the ‘actual commuter value and associated safety risks’.
It appears that the long-running campaign to bring train services back to the tracks was not a key agenda item at the workshop.
However, it was noted that there was a need for additional workshops in the future to discuss other transport options.
We all know the train is the way to go but obviously stubborn stupid people can’t see the forest for the trees argh trains run on solar a no brainer
The train doesn’t go anywhere near the hospital, Alan. And once at the station there is often quite a distance to walk to wherever you want to go in town – sometimes with lots of shopping to cart back. You’d still need a taxi service(or a bus)
The local don’t use the much more flexible buses so there’s little chance the train would be sufficiently used. Stick to fixing Yamba’s problems.
Yes Allan, affordable public transport, including the train services we were promised for so many years, along with decent local bus services, is the only way to reduce traffic and make our towns pleasant places to live in and visit once again. When Byron and other local towns have train stations in the centre of town within easy walking distance to everything, it’s criminal to spend so much taxpayers’ money ripping up the line for a bike track for ‘cycling tourism’ which is bringing more traffic to towns. BRILLIANT!
So, instead of demanding the the state government provide the trains-which is their responsibility-Byron council expects ratepayers to subsidise taxis!! Also a brilliant idea which will go down well with ratepayers who already pay some of the highest rates in the country.
It’s not 30,000 locals causing traffic gridlock in our towns, it’s millions of visitors who could use trains and leave their gas guzzlers at home!!
As the pollies said ‘we’ll need more trains and more tourist trains’. We certainly do and the need grows daily. Residents are over their towns needlessly clogged up with visitors giant gas guzzlers.
Louise, can I suggest you swap to “gargantuan gas guzzlers” – alliteration usually works better.
So you want trains that, in a rural setting, are best for longer commutes, AND buses – taxpayers, ratepayers, somebody pays. There is lots of competing demands for public funds so the expenditure should reflect equity and efficiency.
Meantime, Council could highlight the NSW Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme and encourage all eligible to apply. These schemes exist in the acknowledgement that for some situations, only door to door is really appropriate.
Well said Louise!
You are undeniably right. It is unfortunately also undeniable that there is a loud and persistent cheer squad for the vandalism taking place, destroying the opportunity we have had to capitalise on the infrastructure already in place, that would provide rational cheap, public transport. It is not clear whether this is due to mental incompetence or is contrived to benefit developers. I strongly suspect the later.
Cheers, G”)
Now come on Ken, there has been every opportunity to get the train back. It’s not been hindered by the rail trail concept, it’s because it is no longer suited to the transport needs of this community.
Rail is fine, a link to Brisbane would be fantastic, but this 19th steam age alignment built around timber and dairy, won’t cater for the major population centres eg Ballina, Tweed, Ocean Shores etc. why would any government/consortium pay to repair all the bridges, replace all the sleepers etc etc without any guarantee anyone would use it and without it accommodating any demographic reality.
There is nothing cheap or rational about spending hundreds of millions of dollars providing luxury public transport to the tiny minority who happen to live near and need to travel to places near the old corridor while the vast majority of the population have no use for it.
That is why nobody is going to fund the return of trains no matter hw much rail enthusiasts bleat about it. State government policy is to complete the rail trail and all local councils are backing the plan. Planning is underway to build an on-formation trail in Byron Shire from Yelgun to Mullumbimby and Byron Bay to Booyong. A decision on Mullum to Byron Bay will be made in the near future.
As usual Ken starts attacking the people who have different ideas from his and making up ridiculous assertions about developers benefiting from the trail without the slightest explanation of how this could happen.
One possible part solution to the traffic and transport problems in the Byron Bay area is to promote decentralization, revive and help finance the local corner stores. This would reduce the dependence on cars, as children and adults could walk to their nearby shops for their daily needs. It would also create opportunities for the elderly to run the stores and interact with their neighbors, enhancing their well-being and social life. Moreover, the town should provide more public benches for the old and frail to rest during their walks, so that they do not have to resort to driving.
Indeed Len. There’s been a growing population in the Suffolk Park/Byron Hills area but some NIMBYs kicked up a fuss about a proposal to put a shopping centre on near the BP. Instead we got a medium density residential development to feed yet more cars into Broken Head Rd.
Drivers and pedestrians will likely both eventually obtain eBikes, and bypass the park and ride idea completely, and just ride to wherever they want around town, and lock up to a post, instead of trying to find an hourly parking spot for $$ ..
When the Rail Trail between Mullum to Bangalow is operating, very many more transport geniuses will appear.
What’s wrong with a park and ride at Cavanbah that uses the Elements train? Perhaps a station could be constructed there.
And your’re right Tim S, it seems every day there are more and more e-bikes on the paths and roads.
I tell you what they should run a bus from town to broken head and the seven mile beaches or even it was from broken to the seven mile beaches so there is no cars using that road other than residents at two dollars a ride it would help the environment and less use of cars like the similar idea of park and ride from the cavanbah centre to town
There are regular buses, Alan, that run from Byron Bay to Ballina along the coast road and via Ballina.
Via Lennox Head