public transport usage lately

Due to the removal of zone 3, and increases in fuel prices and also car parking rates more people seem to be using public transport in Melbourne to get to work.
As a result of this extra usage (around 20%) I've noticed the following:

• have to get on train really early now to get a seat. Even trains with a 30 min trip departing at 7am have become standing room only, and then sardine city further in
• a train at 8am with a 30 min trip seems to be packed when I am getting on
• is there a limit for public safety for trains ? if every exit area is packed in like sardines is that breaching any OHS rules. Does our govt owe us all a duty of care?
• Why is the network failing to cope (ie late or cancelled trains) when there should be plans to cater for this scenario. 20% is alot, but at the same time it's been something that should have been happening for quite a while. How many businesses can cope though, with a 20% jump in usage 'overnight'? Has their been a failure to plan for suburb and city growth and the effects on infrastructure
• or are we going greener and considering the impact cars have
• what happened to getting lifts with people/workmates/friends? Is it not knowing the person 'that well', people are to selfish, there is too much change and unpredictability, or people are working long hours.
• there isn't there a CBD ticket - in reality this is just a short trip ticket for city workers or City livers who don't need a car. The only comparable ticket is a 'short trip' but this ticket is distance based rather than a time based. Note: this is the only distance ticket every other ticket is time based. Surely this is not just a revenue raiser :-0. Imagine being able to just get a ticket to get you round the city at lunchtime while you do errands that is quite cheap - say $1 for 2 hours. I think that it would be a great idea and cut back on fraud
• why is it that the new smartcards are going to be point to point by default instead of what we know and already use. Point to point only works if a person only goes to work without anywhere else. Will smartcards be able to be topped up by the web the same way citylink works?

Public transport really seems like it's struggling now, so how is it going to cope in the future as we try to as a society wean ourselves off our car dependence?