Brisbane City Council will vote to ask for review of pets on public transport

Brisbane City Council will today vote to ask the State Government to review the rules surrounding pets on public transport, meaning dogs could soon be allowed to travel on CityCats.

Queensland’s Transport Minister Mark Bailey says he supports a trial of dogs on ferries. Picture: File picture

DOGS could soon be allowed on Brisbane’s ferries under a trial to make public transport more attractive.

Brisbane City Council will today formally vote to ask Transport Minister Mark Bailey to review the rules surrounding pets on public transport, after a petition from residents.

Mr Bailey has already announced he supports a trial of dogs on ferries and told ABC Radio this morning it was something that worked well in New South Wales, Victoria, London and New York.

“I was lucky enough to live in New York for a couple of years, people often took small dogs in bags that looked like handbags … and they would take them on the subway, you would see it quite often,” he said.

“And of course they were contained so there was no issue there with affecting other passengers.”

He said the trial would be limited to dogs and ferries at this stage but did not rule out expansion to buses and trains in the future, saying it was “not impossible”.

Property consultant Paul Liddy says the benefits of allowing dogs on public transport far outweighs the negatives.

Bulimba based property consultant Paul Liddy said allowing pets on public transport would open up the “opportunity to enjoy Brisbane with my dog as I could never before without leaving a carbon footprint, creating more traffic and parking problems”.

“She can only sniff the dirt in the Bulimba dog park for so long without needing more adventures,” Mr Liddy said.

“People who don’t own dogs could see improvement in their lifestyle by a reduction in dogs barking, digging holes and being generally destructive which is what they do to cure boredom and burn energy. A tired and and contented dog is a happy dog.”

Mr Liddy welcomed Brisbane City Council’s decision and said he was “delighted that council have seen the potential benefits to all the community”.

He said the benefits would far outweigh “the minor inconveniences a very small percentage of the community may experience”.

“Of course at the end of the day to state government decision, but the support of Brisbane city council Is vital,” Mr Liddy said.

New Farm resident Annie Boxall at New Farm Ferry Terminal with her dog Banjo. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

New Farm’s Annie Boxall said the vote and potential trial was “extremely exciting”.

“I do really hope that it will move Translink to change a very rigid and out-of-step policy about dogs on transport,” Ms Boxall said.

“If it does get the green light, it is just so wonderful Brisbane (it’s legislators, transport operators and community) are growing and adapting to modern world-class standards particularly in terms of inner-city lifestyle which – in many instances – includes pets.”

She said many inner-city pets often went to work and socialised with their friends and communities “in the inner-city ring and if this goes through, it will mean so many of those pet owners will not have to get the car on the road to socialise, shop and spend time and money in the surrounding communities as well”.

“And one would hope that will make a difference to parking and road congestion too.”

She said the move would mean she could “take my dog to visit my Mum without having to pay the exorbitant parking fees on a week day – between $40-60 sometimes”.

While the trial would be a great move, Ms Boxall said she was concerned about some of the restrictions.

“It is disappointing muzzles would be suggested as part of the proposal (if that is fact) as seeing any dog in a muzzle has a psychologically negative effect on how people view dogs,” she said

“In addition, dogs can get agitated with the restrictive nature of that apparatus which frankly adds to the negative perceptions. I am concerned this sets dogs/the process up for failure.”

“A positive show of well-trained dogs on a trial and some broader education to dog owners about expectations would be a better strategy – responsibility put 100% on the pet owner.

“Personally, I will not put Banjo in a muzzle as he is well trained and very people friendly and responds well to complex situations. I would be happy to have him in a closed carrier/dog bag or to sit with him in a specific area with him on a ferry, bus or train (or plane for that matter).”

Mr Bailey said New South Wales also allowed dogs on ferries if they were contained in a box or basket while Victoria also allowed pets on public transport with their own rules.

“We obviously want public transport to be more friendly … We need to ensure it continues to be safe,” he said.

“Not everyone loves dogs, we’ve got to remember that but it is well-managed in other jurisdictions.”

He said the Queensland Government would start researching rules where pets were allowed on public transport and see what could apply in Brisbane, including how they should be contained and controlled and any size restrictions.

Mr Bailey said this would be combined with consultations with stakeholders, staff and ferry operators to see what was practical and appropriate.