Brisbane's Simple Paint Solution Could Fix Crowded Buses

Kathy de Leon arrives at her bus stop 30 minutes early just to get a seat. If the 59-year-old doesn't claim her spot by 3 PM, she'll stand for the entire 45-minute ride home from Brisbane to Park Ridge.

The line stretches 20 to 25 meters by the time her 3:30 PM bus arrives. "People increased, but our buses didn't increase, so our buses are more packed and busier," she said.

Brisbane's bus ridership has jumped 17% since Queensland introduced 50-cent fares in 2024. The cheap rides are a massive win for commuters' wallets, but the infrastructure hasn't kept pace with demand.

Now transport advocates are proposing a surprisingly simple solution: pop-up bus lanes. The concept uses paint and enforcement cameras to create dedicated bus corridors during peak hours on major roads like Ipswich Road and Sandgate Road.

"It's a bit of paint and a few enforcement cameras along corridors for a period of time," said Jason O'Dwyer from the Queensland Bus Industry Council. "One bus takes 40 to 50 people off the road."

The best part? Brisbane already has proof it works. The 130 bus route uses a mix of exclusive bus lanes and carpool lanes, creating service every two to three minutes during peak times.

The Ripple Effect

Pop-up bus lanes could transform how quickly Brisbane adapts to its public transport success. Dr. Matthew Burke from Bicycle Queensland said the infrastructure already exists on city planning maps, waiting to be activated.

Making buses faster and more reliable encourages even more people to leave their cars at home. That means less traffic congestion for everyone, cleaner air, and lower transportation costs for families already benefiting from the 50-cent fares.

The concept extends beyond just buses too. The same approach could create protected bike lanes and T2/T3 carpool lanes across southeast Queensland, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

De Leon supports the idea but hopes it comes with more frequent service to outer suburbs. "I think that's why people don't want to get onto the bus, they don't want to do a sardine impression," she said.

The Department of Transport says it regularly reviews bus network performance to meet community needs. With ridership soaring, the timing couldn't be better for a low-cost, high-impact solution that turns Brisbane's public transport problem into an even bigger success story.