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Freeloaders targeted

‘Freeloaders’ will be targeted in the latest PTV fare evasion campaign

A new Victorian public awareness campaign ‘Freeloaders’ aims to further drive down fare evasion on public transport

Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder says fare evasion rates are the lowest in five years, but they are still too high, and freeloaders who are ripping off their fellow honest passengers need to pay their way.

“More than 90 per cent of passengers have a valid ticket and they are sick of the small number of freeloaders who don’t pay their way,” he says.

 “Public Transport Victoria’s ‘freeloaders’ campaign sends a clear message to fare evaders. Authorised Officers are checking more tickets, more often and patrol the network in uniform and plain clothes – if you’re worried about getting caught freeloading, you should be.”

The ‘freeloaders’ campaign targeting repeat, high-frequency fare evaders was developed based on research by the Institute of Transport Studies at Monash University in early 2013.

The research revealed that a small number of recidivist fare evaders were responsible for $53.9m of the total $79.3m lost during the 2011-12 financial year through fare evasion.

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) Chief Executive Officer Mark Wild says the study has enabled PTV to be more strategic and targeted in tackling fare evasion.

 “The Monash report has informed the development of PTV’s 2014 Network Revenue Protection Plan which details how we will tackle fare evasion, giving particular focus to repeat fare evaders and increasing the impact of Authorised Officers.”

PTV will continue to work with operators to drive down fare evasion by delivering improved strategies at ticket barriers, more ticket checks at tram stops and improved bus driver vigilance and off-vehicle ticket checking at public transport hubs.

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