We have our first results from The People Say’s Gold Coast transport project, and there is already something interesting happening.
Of the submissions made so far, 77% have chosen Team Tram and 23% Team Bus.
Although there is a lot of commentary in the submissions and on our social posts that suggest other alternatives would be better, they have still landed on either bus or tram.
But the overall number doesn’t tell the whole story. When we look more closely at the responses, different patterns begin to emerge.
Does where you live change your view?
One of the reasons we’re asking people for more than a simple Tram or Bus vote is that we want to understand why different people see the issue differently.
And location is already looking important.
We are comparing responses from people who live:
- less than 1km from the Palm Beach section of the Gold Coast Highway
- 1-5km away
- 5-10km away
- more than 10km away
At this early stage, people living closer to the corridor are showing a noticeably different mix of views from those living further away.
That’s important.
Someone who lives beside the proposed route may experience the issue very differently from someone who lives 20 or 30 km away but travels to the southern Gold Coast.
Neither view is necessarily more “right” than the other. They’re different perspectives, and understanding why they’re different may ultimately be more useful than simply knowing which side has the most votes.
Age may matter too
We’re also seeing differences between age groups.
We don’t want to draw too many conclusions too soon, but the responses suggest that age may influence how people see the choice between buses and light rail.
That’s exactly the sort of thing this project is designed to explore.
We don’t just want a poll. We want more meaningful information on why people think a certain way. This will become crucial when we apply our innovation process to look for the best option.
We want to understand what people think, why they think it, and whether factors such as where they live, their age and their experiences with the transport system help explain those views.
Now we need more people involved
We’ve had a great response through the submissions page and some lively debate on our posts and posts in community pages. But more data means more accuracy.
In fact, the more interesting the early results become, the more important it is to hear from a much larger and broader group of people.
So, which side are you on?
Are you Team Tram, Team Bus, or do you think there is a better alternative we should be considering?
Don’t just vote. Tell us why.
And if you’ve got evidence, research, personal experience or another idea that you think other people should consider, send that through too.
Want to put your colours on the fence?
We’ve also produced Team Tram and Team Bus corflute signs.
If you’re happy to put one on your front fence or display one in your business window, we’d love to hear from you. Just send us a message on our contact page.
And if you’re still undecided?
Even better.
Read what both sides are saying, tell us what information would help you make up your mind, and join the discussion.
The first number is 77% Team Tram. The bigger question is what that number will look like when more of the Gold Coast has had its say.