Saturday 3 August 2013

Farewell 88

I took this photo a few weeks ago - before the removal of the P88 bus route. Already I'm starting to feel a bit nostalgic (having caught it many times).

Brisbane's P88 bus route, days before its removal

It was a great bus route. It went to the city (like most Brisbane buses) but didn't terminate there. It also continued through to southern suburbs like Stones Corner, and out to Eight Mile Plains.

The 'P' in P88 meant it was prepaid. Either show-a-ticket or swipe-a-go-card. It might seem like a small thing, but bus trips are much quicker when each person can get on in 2-3 seconds. No fossicking for loose change while all the other passengers wait.

Combined with other West Brisbane routes, it made the bus frequency really impressive for those of us in the inner west.

I'm sad to see it go, but hopefully the resources saved can help make other routes better.