Car pooling is back, but with a difference.
An innovative 'car pooling' business using a 12-seat mini-bus running between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane within three weeks wants to put a “green transport” alternative back on Brisbane’s agenda.
Using the RACQ's running costs it would be about $100 a week cheaper than driving your own car between Maroochydore and Brisbane's CBD.
Weekly petrol and parking costs between Maroochydore and Brisbane is between $250 to $260 a week.
A mini-bus car pooling scheme by CommuterXpress offers a weekly price from Maroochydore of $155 a week.
The two Sunshine Coast brothers behind the CommuterXpress scheme believe it is the first time the United States-initiated idea has been taken up in Australia.
“We are very excited that Brisbane can be the first city in Australia to have a commuter express service that is very successful in Seattle, San Deigo and many other cities in the States and in Europe,” entrepreneur Mark Vaney said.
Seattle now has 2500 commuter mini-buses running each day and plans to build that to 7000 per day.
Mark Vaney and his brother, Michael, have smaller hopes, but are just as optimistic.
The Vaney brothers hope to have “several” 12-seat mini-buses running by Christmas and 100 mini-buses running within 12 months.
“That would be 50 from the Sunshine Coast and 50 from the South,” Mark Vaney said.
His brother Michael Vaney said the $5000 saved each year could save 10 to 12 years of mortgage repayments on a typical $300,000 mortgage.
“By not using your own car and putting the money into your mortgage you can cut the mortgage by 10-to-12 years and save yourself $120,000 in interest,” he argued.
Costs and fares
Petrol between Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane – a round trip of 210 kilometres a day, at an average $1.52 a litre, costs $159.60 a week, or $636 a month.
Regular parking per week in Brisbane’s CBD costs between $100-$110 per week, or around $400 a month.
On fuel and parking alone, a commuter would pay $250 to $260 a week travelling from Maroochydore, or around $1000 a month.
CommuterXpress’ fare from Maroochydore is $155 a week, one of 10 Sunshine Coast fares they are offering.
That is between $95 and $100 week less than driving your own car.
Gold Coast fares range from $130 per week from Southport, to $155 form Palm Beach.
Mike and Mark Vaney agree it is a radical development for Australia, but one they think is ready to take off.
“On our figures from the Sunshine Coast a commuter will save – based on the RACQ’s vehicle fare figures – about $5000 a year in the own money,” Mark Vaney said.
The RACQ's running costs guide - which can be read here - shows running costs for cars range from $136 per week for a small car to $240 a week for a medium sized car.
As an example their running costs for a Honda Civic - including fuel, tyre wear and servicing - is 62 cents per kilometre or $178 per week.
The mini van
Each mini-bus seats 12, so with 10 to 12 passengers on each daily trip, 10 to 12 cars come off the motorway between Maroochydore and Brisbane’s CBD and one mini-bus goes on.
A person volunteers as a driver – completes testing with the Department of Transport and Main Roads – and then drives the mini-bus free.
The mini-buses have seat belts and have been checked and authorised by the Department of Transport and main Roads.
“It saves parking, it saves petrol, it saves congestion and it saves around 80 to 100 tonnes of CO2 vehicle emissions a year by pulling those cars off the road,” Mr Vaney said.
“All approvals are in place, all insurances are in place and the drivers are approved and trained. That is all in place,” he said.
“And we have our first group ready to go in two to three weeks.”
“So it is five days a week, for the same people in the same bus, from the same location to the same destination.”
“So the people have their seat, on their bus every day.”
Customers book online, provide details of their pick-up and drop-off departures and the business co-ordinates one departure point and subsequent drop-off points in Brisbane’s CBD.
Commuters can try the service free for a week.
CommuterXpress is already planning a second service between the Gold Coast and Brisbane’s CBD, after winning backing from this week Brisbane City Council and receiving strong initial support.
It already has approval from the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, and support from Sunshine Coast workers sick of paying expensive petrol and parking.
Brisbane’s deputy mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner said the Council will provide two free parking spaces near Roma Street Parklands for six months as a base for the company’s two 12-seater mini-buses.
“People who will otherwise be driving their car down to Brisbane, now have an option to do some car pooling – in a comfortable environment – and also help traffic congestion,” Cr Schrinner said.
“And it is also good for the environment as well.”
Cr Schrinner said the council was aware of the success of the scheme overseas.
“We’d like to see this become a great success. It has been used in a number of countries overseas, particularly in the States.”
“And the States – despite being a very car dominated culture – has found great success with this idea.”
“If it will work in the States, it will work here.”
The council’s offer of free parking takes some of the overhead costs from the fledgling business as it grows, Cr Schrinner said.
“If they had to pay commercial rates for parking then that would affect the viability of the trial.”
Further information from www.commuterexpress.com.au
