The debate over whether public or private transport is superior to the other has been ongoing for some time now as efficiency, flexibility and cost continuously influence the decisions of Melbourne's transport users every day. This not only affects the general population, but also affects commuters who are planning their trips across Melbourne. The public transport system in Melbourne is extensive as the entire system includes several types of transport, although the most common types include trains and trams. The private transportation system often includes only personal transportation such as cars or private transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft. Both types of transportation, public and private, have advantages and disadvantages in determining efficiency, convenience, safety risks and costs (Vishwanath, Arun, 2015). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Public transportation provides the commuter with an efficient but slightly inconvenient way to travel to and from destinations. The public transport system of trains and trams is efficient as traffic is avoided as cars and pedestrians do not crowd the train and tram tracks. However, trains and trams run according to strict timetables to achieve maximum efficiency. Inflexible timetables often conflict with commuters' personal timetables, as they must indicate precisely the time they need to leave, taking into account the time traveled to the train or tram and the potential waiting time (Vishwanath, Arun , 2015). As of September 2019, the percentage of times the Metro train was on time was approximately 89.9%, while the Metro Tram's punctuality was slightly lower at 86.3% (Public Transport Victoria). The reliability statistics of the arriving train or tram were much higher as the reliability of the metropolitan train in September 2019 was 98.4% and the reliability of the metropolitan tram was about 97.9% (Public Transport Victoria). The punctuality and reliability of trains and trams could potentially influence a commuter's daily journeys by causing them to seek other options such as private transport. However, with a growing population and more congestion on the roads, inflexible timetables may become less of a detriment to commuters (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Additionally, the public transportation system provides the commuter with a cost-effective way to travel. to and from certain destinations every day as MYKI cards can be used in multiple transport zones (Public Transport Victoria). The MYKI card also offers the commuter cost benefits as the maximum amount charged is $8.80 each day, regardless of the number of times a person uses public transport (Public Transport Victoria). There are also free tram zones that allow people to travel for free on trams around Melbourne (Public Transport Victoria). The public transport system has a network development plan to increase the capacity of the system. The plan currently underway allows more people to meet greater demand to use the system through growth “which, if fully implemented, could increase peak capacity by 50% in 2023 and 100% by 2023.” years” (Barrow, 2013). This plan aims to improve “light rail and bus connections and extend the network to areas not currently served by suburban rail” (Barrow, 2013). The network development plan allows for a more innovative approach to avoid increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic (Barrow,2013). While public transportation may be a more convenient and efficient way to travel, many people have questioned the safety risks they pose. present because public transport is used daily more intensely and more often by a greater number of people than private transport. This concern was expressed and“to ensure the safety and continuity of the operation of the tram network system, numerous maintenance and renewal interventions are regularly carried out on the tracks. Unplanned maintenance activities are costly and would cause low quality of service. Therefore, the condition of the track should be inspected and, when it has degraded beyond an acceptable limit, pre-failure maintenance should be scheduled" (Moridpour & Hesami, 2015). This states that extensive planning and time must be predetermined as wear and failure of tracks occurs over time although the specific time of failure is not known. Consequently, if costs and planning do not go accordingly, train and tram systems could pose a potential hazard to the average commuter (Moridpour & Hesami, 2015). On the other hand, private transport offers the commuter several advantages and disadvantages compared to public transport Public transport users do not have to pay. For example, maintenance costs, fuel prices, insurance coverage and parking costs add up as the car operator uses the car more frequently (Vishwanath, Arun, 2015). Additionally, private companies such as Uber and Lyft provide base fares as well as the additional cost of transportation to the user's destination, which in turn can be more expensive than public transportation (Uber). The cost of private transport could motivate the consumer to choose more convenient options such as public transport. Although the cost of private transportation may be higher than the cost of public transportation, private transportation has proven to be more convenient for some consumers. For example, with a personal car, a commuter can make multiple stops on the way to the destination (Currie & Delbosc, 2010). This “implies that if travel chains continue to increase in complexity, public transport use will suffer as more people rely on their cars to meet their complex travel needs” (Currie & Delbosc, 2010). There is therefore a direct correlation between the increase in the number of stops and the decrease in the use of public transport. However, based on projected population growth, convenience may decrease due to increased traffic patterns (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Going back to private transportation companies Uber and Lyft, while these private companies may be more expensive than public transportation options, they can also be more comfortable and convenient for the commuter. Uber and Lyft have many customized options that meet the user's specific needs. For example, on the Uber app you can choose the size of the car to offer more space for additional users or more space for a comfortable journey (Uber). A premium option is also offered if the user wants a more luxurious experience (Uber). Another option provided is a wheelchair accessible Uber which allows handicapped individuals to still have a private transportation option available (Uber). Private transportation companies may not be affected as drastically due to population growth due to the need for a private car in certain situations. For example, if a person has to).