Brisbane! - Queensland-australia.eu

want to buy a more high quality
and comprehensive map, try
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Timetables
Trains and buses are by far the
most convenient ways to travel
within the central districts.
Before attempting to catch a
train or bus, find yourself a timetable
and station map, or see
the online journey planner at
the Translink website (translink.
com.au). Timetables are available
online, at information
centres and at large train stations.
If you are looking to get
information via the phone, you
can call the Translink Hotline on
13 12 30.
There are some late night services
provided over the weekend
for those who like to go out and
party, however, as a general
rule, public transport stops at
around midnight.
Some universities have shuttle
buses that take students around
campuses, which will save you a
huge amount of time!
Tickets
Ticket prices depend on the
zone in which you plan to travel.
The CBD is Zone 1, and the
further out of the city you go,
the higher the zone is. There are
two types of tickets, go cards
and standard paper tickets. Go
card is a prepaid service, which
allows you to pay for credit on
your card you then touch the go
card on the go card reader on
the bus/tram/ferry, and credit
will be taken off your card.
Touch the go card on the reader
when you board public transport,
and again as you leave.
For students in Queensland,
if you have a “QR” symbol on
your student card (only for fulltime
students), you can enjoy
concession prices for transport
within Queensland. When you
purchase the concession go
card you need to show your
student ID card to the person
selling the tickets.
It is very easy to recharge go
cards. You can buy them from
the machines or ticket offices
at bus stops, train stations and
some convenience stores such
as 7-11s and newsagents.
Most of the convenient shops
can only sell and recharge go
cards. However, if the bus
number begins with “P”, that
means ‘prepaid’, so you cannot
purchase any tickets from the
bus driver and must use your
go card.
Remember, in some countries,
being caught without a ticket is
not prosecuted heavily. In Australia,
it is! Getting caught with
no ticket or the wrong ticket
comes with an expensive fine.
Travelling
Always remember to read the
signs at both the station and
on-board. If you are sitting and
someone standing is elderly or
disabled, it is polite to give them
your seat. In priority seating
sections, this is enforced by law.
Also, it is not a strange practice
in Australia to thank the driver
as you leave the bus.
Go
Online!
translink.com.au
for online timetables and
journey planners.
Taxis
Finding a Taxi
Taxis (cabs) can often be found
in their designated ranks. There
are a number of taxi ranks
around Brisbane and standing
at these will help them to notice
you.
If the light on the top of a taxi is
on, this means that this taxi can
be hailed by raising your arms
and waving to it. If it is not on,
it has a passenger inside already
and will not stop for you.
Fares
Taxis are not always cheap.
Make sure you watch the meter.
Some late night taxi trips will be
asked to be paid for in advance.
There may also be additional
charges for late night services
and phone bookings. This is not
as common in Brisbane as it is
in other major Australian cities.
Taxi Companies
Put these numbers in your
phone now:
Black and White
Cabs
13 10 08
Yellow Cabs
13 19 24
BIKES
Brisbane City Bikes
Brisbane City Council is in the
middle of rolling out a number
of bike stations around the City.
This allows a person to pick up
a bike, ride around the city
and drop off the bike at a different
station. It is perfect for
students!
By the end of 2010, Stage One
should be complete, which will
mean stations operational in
Brisbane City, Fortitude Valley,
New Farm, Newstead, Kangaroo
Point, South Brisbane and
West End.
It will be easy to use. All you
do is pay the tiny amount of
$60.50 per year and you get
access to the bikes!
Keep an eye on the Brisbane
City Council website for updates
on this project including how to
subscribe and which locations
will be active on what date.
Buying a Car
Elyse Lloyd
Have a think about what is the best car for you. Big
engines have the power, but they cost more to run.
Small cars are cheap to run and they’re easier to park,
but older models may struggle to get up to high
speeds.
It’s best to do some research before you go out
looking. The Trading Post (a newspaper for secondhand
buying and selling) runs a comprehensive
section on cars. Other classifieds are available in other
newspapers too. On the Internet you’ll be able to
compare many cars from car yards in one place, e.g.
on carsguide.com.au. This will give you a good idea
of the average price you’ll pay for the car you want.
Once you’ve been looking for a few weeks, you should
know what kind of car you want and can afford.
Private sellers and dealers have their advantages and
disadvantages. Private sellers are good because they
know the history of the car, and you can sometimes
get great deals. However, don’t expect a refund if the
car breaks down, they have no obligation to do that.
A dealer does offer some guarantee of quality, with
warranties offered with cars, however you can expect
to pay 30% more for a second-hand car from a dealer
compared to a private seller.
Here’s a tip - If you go to car yards, then only look at
the car once before going back to buy. If a salesperson
knows that you are really keen, they may try to get
more money out of you. In Queensland, a car for sale
needs to have a Road Worthy Certificate displayed
clearly, which will ensure the car is safe to drive.
Always test drive the car and remember the RACQ,
Brisbane’s trusted motor authority! You can also get
any car you are interested in checked by an RACQ
approved mechanic to make sure it is in good condition.
Joining the RACQ is also good because they
provide 24-hour roadside assistance in case your car
breaks down. To check out the legal requirements and
to find help when buying a car, visit:
fairtrading.qld.gov.au/buy-used-car.htm
Drive Safely!
8 Getting Around www.studybrisbane.com
The Insider 2010 - International Student Guide to Brisbane
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