The debate over the superiority of public or private transport has been going on for some time now, as efficiency, flexibility and cost continually influence the decisions of Melbourne transport users, every day. This not only affects the general population, but also commuters planning their trips to Melbourne. Melbourne's public transport system is extensive as the entire system includes several types of public transport, although the most common types include trains and trams. The private transportation system often only includes personal transportation like cars or private transportation companies like Uber and Lyft. Both types of transportation – public and private – have advantages as well as disadvantages when it comes to determining efficiency, convenience, safety risks and costs (Vishwanath, Arun, 2015). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Public transportation provides commuters with an efficient, but slightly inconvenient, way to travel to and from destinations. The public transport system consisting of trains and trams is efficient to the extent that traffic is avoided because cars and pedestrians do not congest the railways and trams. However, trains and trams operate on very tight schedules in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Inflexible schedules often conflict with commuters' personal schedules, as they must time precisely when they need to leave while taking into account the time traveled to get to the train or tram and the potential waiting time (Vishwanath , Arun, 2015). As of September 2019, the percentage of times the metropolitan train was on time was approximately 89.9%, while the punctuality of the metropolitan tram was slightly lower at 86.3% (Public Transport Victoria). The upcoming train or tram reliability statistics were much higher as the Metropolitan Rail reliability in September 2019 was 98.4% and the Metropolitan Tram reliability was around 97.9% (Public Transport Victoria) . The punctuality and reliability of trains and trams could potentially influence commuters' daily journeys, possibly leading them to seek other options such as private transport. However, as the population grows and congestion increases on the roads, inflexible timetables may become less detrimental to commuters (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Additionally, the public transportation system provides commuters with a cost-effective way to get around. to and from selected destinations each day, as MYKI cards can be used in multiple transport zones (Public Transport Victoria). The MYKI card also provides the commuter with financial benefits as the maximum amount charged each day is $8.80, regardless of the number of times a person accesses public transport (Public Transport Victoria). There are also free tram zones which allow people to ride trams around Melbourne for free (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 higher demand for system usage through growth "which, if fully implemented, could increase peak capacity by 50% in 2023 and 100% within 20 years” (Barrow, 2013). This plan aims to improve “connections with the trainlight rail and buses, and to extend the network to areas not currently served by commuter rail” (Barrow, 2013). The network development plan allows for a more innovative approach to avoid increased pedestrian and automobile traffic (Barrow, 2013). Although public transportation can be a more cost-effective and efficient way to travel, many people have questioned the safety risks. Public transport is more numerous and more often used daily by a greater number of people than private transport. This concern was expressed and “to ensure the safety and continuity of operation of the tram network, numerous maintenance and renewal operations are regularly carried out on the tracks. Unplanned maintenance activities are costly and would result in poor quality of service. Therefore, the condition of the track must be inspected and, when it has deteriorated beyond a certain acceptable limit, its maintenance must be scheduled before failure” (Moridpour & Hesami, 2015). This indicates that extensive planning and time must be predetermined based on wear and tear. and tearing of traces occurs over time, although the precise moment of rupture is unknown. As a result, if costs and planning are not appropriate, the train and tram systems could pose a potential danger to the average commuter (Moridpour & Hesami, 2015). On the other hand, private transportation offers the commuter different advantages and disadvantages than public transportation. Private transport has proven to be less profitable as private cars generate additional costs that public transport users do not have to pay. For example, maintenance costs, gasoline prices, insurance coverage, and parking fees add up as the car driver uses the car more frequently (Vishwanath, Arun, 2015). Additionally, private companies such as Uber and Lyft offer base fares plus the additional cost of transportation to the user's destination, which in turn may be more expensive than public transportation (Uber). The cost of private transport could encourage the consumer to choose more cost-effective options such as public transport. Although the cost of private transportation may be higher than public transportation, private transportation has proven to be more convenient for some consumers. For example, with a personal car, a commuter can make several stops before reaching their destination (Currie and Delbosc, 2010). This “implies that if travel chains continue to increase in complexity, public transport use will suffer, as more and more people will rely on their cars to meet their complex travel needs” (Currie and 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). Coming back to the private transportation companies of Uber and Lyft, although these private companies may be more expensive than public transportation options, they may also be more comfortable and convenient for the commuter. Uber and Lyft offer many personalized options that meet the user's specific needs. For example, on the Uber app, the car size can be chosen to provide more space for additional users or more space for comfortable travel (Uber). A premium option is).