Transportation
Getting anywhere in Brisbane is extremely easy. The CBD is relatively flat and condensed, which makes it perfect for walking or cycling and virtually all other areas can be reached by public transport. However, some areas can be difficult to navigate through a combination of dead ends, winding roads and steep slopes. This applies to some inner-city suburbs, but especially outer suburbs. If you find yourself lost, it's advisable to head to the nearest main road as more than likely it will be serviced by buses or trains. If you are driving, a street directory is an essential addition to your car. Locals are generally friendly and more than willing to help you out if you are lost, so don't be afraid to ask. 6
By Foot
Brisbane is an excellent city for walking and you should have no problems getting around the CBD. Within minutes of walking in virtually any direction you will be able to find a bus, train or ferry station. Maps can be purchased from bookstores such as QBD (Queensland Books Depot), Dymocks, Borders, any tourist information centre or viewed online.
Beyond the CBD and inner-suburbs however, sights can become very spread out, so you might want to consider other modes of getting around. 7
By Bicycle
Cycling on footpaths is legal in the Brisbane City Council area, however pedestrians have right of way. Keep left and take special care when riding through South Bank Parklands as the shared (and quite wide) foot and cycle path is often clogged with large groups taking up the whole path, pedestrians stopping unexpectedly for photos and playing children running heedlessly in front of you. It is often too noisy here to use your bell, so out of courtesy and safety, you're strongly urged to dismount and push your bicycle through crowded areas.
Some areas of Brisbane are very hilly. If your street map shows a tangle of winding streets close together that is a sign of steep roads. A short trip can quickly become a lot of work. Stick to the river when possible, it's where you get the best views and it is almost entirely flat.
If you leave the cycle paths, footpaths, and minor streets you should be prepared to contend with busy urban traffic. Feel free to ignore any Brisbane motorists that may have resentment toward cyclists and ignorance of the road rules applying to cyclists; cyclists are permitted to travel on just about all roads in Brisbane. Special "bicycle lanes" on Brisbane's roads are becoming increasingly common and are often denoted by a narrow green-coloured strip of road adjacent to the curb.
Wearing a safety helmet is a must in Brisbane. The police issue a $120 fine for cycling without a safety helmet which is heavily enforced. 8
Public Transport
The three main public transport options of Brisbane - ferries, buses and trains - are linked by a common ticketing system, known as TransLink. This coordination arrangement allows free transfers to be made between the three different transport modes, providing relevant time and zone restrictions are met. The TransLink website (tel. 13 12 30) is handy for researching public transport options between destinations, and is essential for Brisbane visitors planning their commute.
It is strongly advisable to check the timetables, as some of the less popular routes have limited runs or may not run at all on weekends, public holidays or late at night. Sometimes runs will be affected by events going on around the CBD and inner-suburbs and you can expect delays, though this is usually limited to September's Riverfire Festival and New Years Eve. To aid in increased passenger numbers, Translink will have regular runs in addition to extra runs on certain routes during special events.
As well as paper-based tickets for trips of various lengths of time, TransLink incorporates an integrated ticketing system called the go card. The go card is smart card technology, offering the same benefits as the integration of transport options delivered by the TransLink arrangement, except with transport users paying for trips through pre-paid credit instead of cash. go card fares are also 20-35% cheaper than the equivalent paper ticket. There are however, disadvantages, as there is no equivalent of, for example, a daily ticket which provides unlimited travel throughout the day. Also, as it costs money to obtain a go card ($10 refundable, plus an amount of credit which is used to pay for public transport fares), short-term visitors to the city would be better off buying single or daily tickets. However, within the 2010 year, the Queensland state government intends to fully phase out use of paper tickets in preference of having public transport users conduct their travel with a go card.
There are also special late night services. Nightlink services only operate on Friday and Saturday night for buses, trains and taxis. See Translink for more info.
Travellers should ensure they have a valid ticket as ticket inspectors make frequent appearances and fines can be significant. You may also be required to display a valid student/senior card if you are travelling on a concession ticket type. 9
Brisbane is an excellent city for walking and you should have no problems getting around the CBD.10
Photo
Brisbane Transport, Queensland Australia. Scania L94UB 678-FZR (fleet No G678) heading out of the City and crossing the Victoria Bridge over the Brisbane River. Three other buses are following.5