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Getting Around
[Courtesy of Tiscali.Travel]
Public Transport
Perths integrated, efficient metropolitan public transport system is called
Transperth (tel: 136 213; fax: (08) 9320 9545; e-mail: enquiries@transperth.wa.gov.au;
website: www.transperth.wa.gov.au).
Buses, trains and ferries display the Transperth colours and passengers can
transfer between services on one ticket. Timetable and ticket information is
available at the Transperth InfoCentres at Plaza Arcade, Wellington Street bus
station, Perth City Busport and Perth Railway Station.
 Bus
services operate daily 0600-2330. Central Area Transit (CAT) buses are free
and operate on three different routes around the City and Northbridge.
Transperth trains run from Perth Railway Station to Currambine
in the north, Armadale in the south, Midland in the east and Fremantle in the
west (weekdays 0530-2400). During summer trains run until 0300 on Friday and
Saturday and in winter until 0200.
Ferries operate between the City at Barrack Street jetty across
the Swan River to Mends Street jetty in South Perth. Services are between 0700
and 1915 (until 2130 on Friday and Saturday).
The fare structure for all forms of transport is based on eight zones a two-zone
ride costs A$2.90. Tickets can be purchased from the driver or coin-operated
machines at train stations and ferry terminals. Prepaid and cheaper FastCards,
including A$7.30 DayRider and MultiRider tickets A$24.65 for a book of ten
two-zone tickets are available for purchase in advance from newsagents and
InfoCentres.
Taxis
Reasonably priced, meter-operated taxis gather at transport terminals, taxi
ranks and hotels. Taxis can also be hailed in the street. Booking by phone is
possible with Black & White Taxis (tel: (08) 9333 3333) or Swan Taxis (tel:
131 330). Black & White Taxis charge an initial A$2.90 hire fee, 0600-1800
weekdays, or A$4.20 all other times, as well as a further A$1.17 per kilometre.
Tipping is generally not required unless the service is exceptional, although
rounding up to the nearest Dollar is always appreciated.
Limousines
Central Park Limousines (tel: (08) 9409 3660) and Executive Limousine Company
(tel: (08) 9448 5135) both provide a limousine service. Hire starts at approximately
A$100 per hour.
Driving in the City
Traffic moves relatively quickly in central Perth, except during very wet conditions
(the rainy season is May to August), when a combination of caution and accidents
slows down the traffic considerably. A traditional bottleneck the aptly named
Narrows Bridge, linking South Perth to the city was doubled in size in mid-2000
and no longer poses a problem. The new tunnel under Northbridge, on the Graham
Farmer freeway, also has significantly reduced traffic through the city.
Parking stations are marked by the CPP symbol and are located
in Pier Street, Hay Street, Murray Street and Mounts Bay Road, with parking
available at a cost of approximately A$4 per hour. Available at staffed car
parks, the Perth Parkcard (tel: (08) 9461 3236) is an alternative to change
as a means of payment at outdoor parking stations.
Car Hire
All major car hire companies have offices in Perth, including Avis, 46 Hill
Street (tel: (08) 9325 7677; website: www.avis.com),
and Hertz, 39 Milligan Street (tel: (08) 9321 7777; website: www.hertz.com).
The minimum age for hiring a car is usually 21 years. A credit card is required,
as is an International Driving Permit (in English). Rates start from A$61 per
day and insurance is not included in the price of hire this costs an extra
A$83.
Bicycle Hire
Perth has many cycle routes that are fun to navigate. Bicycle helmets must be
worn at all times. Providers include About Bike Hire, Carpark, Riverside Drive
(tel: (08) 9221 2665), Canning Bridge Cycles, 886 Canning Highway, Applecross
(tel: (08) 9364 1733), and Boat Torque 2000, Barrack Street, Pier Four (tel:
(08) 9221 5844). Hire is approximately A$20 a day.
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