Parking fines halted amid Brisbane public transport changes

No new parking fines will be issued across Brisbane City Council, effective immediately, with warnings left by council parking inspectors instead.

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said he didn't want to see people fined for parking, with the only times a fine will be issued for the forseeable future would be if a vehicle was parked dangerously.

Parking fines across Brisbane will not be issued for the forseeable future.Credit: File

"We have asked our council parking inspectors to show leniency at this time," Cr Schrinner said.

"From today onwards, we have asked them not to issue parking fines, to instead issue warnings."

Cr Schrinner said people who had received fines in recent times could also appeal through the council to challenge the fine.

"Last year we waived more than 10,000 fines across the city, so we have asked our officers to take a lenient approach at this time," he said.

Council usually collects about $3 million in parking fines each year.

Council has also altered its public transport fare management, with only Go Cards permitted on buses, ferries and CityCats.

Patrons on buses must use the rear doors to enter and exit, unless they have accessibility requirements, and the front seat next to the driver will be cordoned off.

TransLink deputy director-general Matthew Longland said passengers won't necessarily be refused if they didn't have a Go Card but he strongly urged people to get one.

"We’re seeing patronage in some cases only around half of what we’ve seen prior to this period we’re in, so there is plenty of capacity on services. We haven’t had to reduce any capacity on timetables at this stage, but we will keep monitoring that," he said.

"The numbers we are seeing at the moment are a reduction of between 40 and 50 per cent. That’s not a bad thing; that’s about people listening to the messaging about limiting non-essential travel.

"It does mean that there is plenty of space on board trains, trams, ferries and buses to ensure that customers have plenty of space, particularly where we are observing social distancing."

In the past week council has reported a 36 per cent decrease in public transport patronage.

Small cross-river ferries and CityHoppers may be cancelled in future because of their closed-in nature, according to health requirements.

Limits may also be imposed in future on passenger numbers and council's public transport network may go to weekend schedules should staff numbers drop because of illness, Cr Schrinner said.

Council has also automated 560 pedestrian crossing buttons at traffic lights across the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane so people don't have to touch the buttons.

Cr Schrinner said more buttons would be automated citywide in the coming days.

- with Toby Crockford