Public Transport Users Association (PTUA)

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) represents passengers of all forms of public transport. We are a non-profit, voluntary organisation, with no political affiliations and we’re committed to:

• a sustainable economy
• a healthy ecology
• an equitable society

… where Victorians can go anywhere, anytime, using a community-controlled public transport system that is convenient, efficient and safe.

The PTUA has been heavily campaigning for better public transport services for 30 years. We lobby governments and interest groups as well as educate the media and the public about transport issues.

Melbourne has a target of ensuring that 20 per cent of all trips are made on public transport by 2020. At present, this figure is just nine per cent. With continued pressure on oil prices and increasing urban sprawl, the PTUA has a vital role to play in making the community aware of the importance of a reliable, convenient public transport system, and to ensure Governments are implementing measures to achieve this.

In recent times, the PTUA has been an integral part of these initiatives:

• all night trains on New Years Eve: due to a PTUA-led media blitz in 2003/2004 the state government announced all-night train services for New Year’s Eve as part of its contract renegotiation process
• the Box Hill Tram Extension
• Craigieburn & Sydenham electrification
• increased weekend frequencies: throughout the 1990s the PTUA succeeded in lobbying for significantly improved rail and tram services on Sundays, in most cases doubling their current service frequencies
• the Boronia Interchange: PTUA campaigning in Boronia saved the suburb from being split in two by a lowered Dorset Road.
• increased services on SmartBus routes.

We are always looking for people to help us run our office, publish our newsletter, assist with our campaigns and update our web site; and we’re always on the look-out for ideas that can help us get our message out there.

If you have a passion for improving public transport, we’ll have a job for you.