Queenslanders are slowly returning to public transport after two years of pandemic-hit patronage, with commuter figures hovering around 68 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
Data from the state transport department shows in the week ending May 22, total patronage across busses, light rail and heavy rail sat at 2.6 million trips.
The comparable week ending May 26 in 2019, before the pandemic began, saw patronage figures at 3.8 million trips.
Ferries were not included in the data as they had only recently returned to operation after being taken off the river during the floods.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said during the first months of the pandemic, patronage dropped as low as 20 per cent of pre-COVID levels, and that was mirrored again this January and February during the Omicron wave.
"Combine the pandemic, with floods in February and March, and recent heavy rainfalls, it's been a challenging time for commuters," Mr Bailey said.
But, he said, the quick return of commuters to buses and trains showed promise, with the strongest patronage figures shown by the Gold Coast light rail where patronage topped 77 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
About 600,000 people are now using the G:Link tram monthly.
The transport data showed that bus patronage across the week of May 22 this year sat at 70.5 per cent of pre-COVID levels, clocking 1.7 million trips compared to 2.5 million in the same week in 2019.
Heavy rail trips rose to 62 per cent of pre-COVID levels, with 673,841 trips taken over the week of May 22 this year, compared to just over one million trips in the same 2019 week.
Public transport patronage bounced back relatively quickly in the later months of 2020, with figures returning to about 60 per cent across the network before nosediving again during further lockdowns and restrictions.
Active transport not included
The data did not collect information on active transport use during the pandemic, such as e-scooters, cycling and walking.
Anecdotal data shows a strong uptake in active transport across the pandemic as commuters shied away from buses and trains.
Used car sales also increased in the past two years, as more people opted to drive, increasing congestion on the roads.
Public transport services were kept operating at normal levels throughout the pandemic to support essential workers.
