How often do you hear someone say they'd be willing to leave the car at home and catch public transport if only it was more accessible and convenient?
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If only the nearest stop was a little nearer. If only the bus route wasn't so circuitous.
If only there was a simpler, more convenient, way to pay for a trip. If only.
The lesson in this for governments is clear and simple.
If the goal is to increase public transport patronage - as it is for the ACT government - the process of catching a bus or tram must be made as simple as possible for passengers.
Make it any harder, or fail to remove existing barriers, and people will hop back in their cars - or never ditch them in the first place.
The Barr government, for all the many millions spent on light rail and its much-hyped redesign of the bus network, continues to give potential passengers reasons not to consider the public transport alternative.
This week it was a concession of further delays to the long-awaited rollout of a new ticketing system, which would allow people to tap on and off using their credit cards.
Transport Minister Chris Steel last year described the existing MyWay ticket technology as outdated, as he declared the government wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to catch public transport.
A "really good ticketing experience", he said at the time, was "really important to improve the transit experience".
Canberrans will now have to wait until 2023 for that experience after talks with a preferred provider fell through.
Mr Steel had as recently as November blamed the coroanvirus pandemic for delays in the announcement of a provider. This week he indicated the proposal put forward was too expensive.
Plans for the new ticketing system aren't new - some $7 million was allocated to the project back in 2017.
The government is wise to reject any proposal which doesn't represent value for taxpayer dollars.
But six years to roll out a new bus ticket system? Please.
Sadly, and frustratingly, news of the delay was not altogether surprising, given the immense difficulties this government appears to have in following through on its promises.
Just last week The Canberra Times reported the long-awaited upgrade of Canberra's women's and children's hospital was facing lengthy delays.
Need we even mention SPIRE?
Andrew Barr has said his long-serving government would be marked on its ability to deliver its promises in new term.
It's been a very underwhelming start to say the least.