Translink may well be taking another step towards removing State Government subsidies on public transport, but the move undermines continued bids to get more people on to public transport.

The government is to be commended for its integrated public transport system that Translink operates. The move has removed the continued struggle that private bus operators always had in the Redlands.

While the coordinated ticketing system has made public transport travel easier, all the gains are at risk if new incentives are not introduced to encourage more people to use public transport.

A 20 per cent increase in weekly fares for regular commuters does not encourage people to change their travel patterns in favour of public transport. The push to cut subsidies is flawed because it fails to recognise the diversion of costs into road infrastructure.

Public transport patronage is at its highest in compact and high population locations where travel patterns are similar. That is not the case in the Greater Brisbane area, of which Redlands is part. Therefore, the government must accept that subsidies and incentives need to be provided to maximise public transport use.

The alternative is more clogged roads, and under-used trains and buses.