Friday, March 28, 2014

Transport "expert" sees crowding as a "problem."

Attention experts. Bus crowding is not a problem. Just add more buses. The government represents the people, right? Well the "people" constantly tell pollsters to build more public transit! Here are some real problems: global warming, climate disruption, floods, drought, fires, traffic congestion, parking.... etc.
Cheaper public transport fares are not fair: "Although the fares are free, revenue loss will not be that high; suburban rail commuters using CBD trams have already paid the fare, so they don't really get free travel. Likewise tram commuters have already "swiped on" in the suburbs. What of fare evaders? In practice it's impractical to check tickets on crowded CBD trams so the free policy is quite pragmatic. However, there will be problems. Local CBD tram travel will increase by about 30 per cent so CBD trams will be more crowded."

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Protest works. #Tunnelpicket action has spurred debate about #publictransit

State government plans overhaul to Melbourne public transport zones, ticketing: "Melburnians will be guaranteed free travel on trams within the CBD and Docklands, and zone 2 commuters will be charged a zone 1 fare regardless of who wins November’s state election."

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Painful birth of the East-West Link

Plan Melbourne: Wrong way, go back: "''It was as though the document had suddenly become the Ministerial Advisory Committee's document and that the other people, including some in the room, had had no input,'' recalls Hansen. ''They certainly didn't put their hands up to declare that they were contributors.

''The commentary coming from some of the public servants around the table quite frankly was insulting.''"

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

No East West Tunnel - Take the pledge

No East West Tunnel - Take the pledge: "Why did #tunnelpicket join March In March Australia 2014? It might have something to do with this quote from Tony Abbott's book:

“In Australia’s biggest cities, public transport is generally slow, expensive, not especially reliable and still hideous drain on the public purse. Part of the problem is inefficient, overmanned, union-dominated government run train and bus systems. Mostly though, …there just aren’t enough people wanting to go from a particular place to a particular destination at a particular time to justify any vehicle larger than a car, and cars need roads.”"

Sunday, March 16, 2014

If bicycling not safe for children, it is not safe

Bill Cawte - Better Bike Paths Now : "There is a lot of work to be done.  We must do anything it takes to meet the needs of the least confident riders and potential riders.  Anybody who has ever had half a mind to try riding to work, or school, or to the shops must be made to feel safe, and confident of government's utmost support.  Our cycling facilities must meet the ‘Mums and Kids Test', whereby they provide a level of reassurance sufficient for mothers to send their children out on their bikes."

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Voting is managed by corporate media, now they are banning protest

Australia Anti-Protest Law: Victoria State Passes Legislation To Expand Police Powers: "In Victoria's capital of Melbourne, protesters have repeatedly tried to block the work of a multi-billion dollar road and tunnel project called the East West Link Road in recent months. The protesters have raised concerns about the project's environmental impact and huge price tag. Victorian police have been accused of reacting with heavy-handed tactics to disperse demonstrations."

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Millions wasted marketing East-West Link, and people not buying it

No East West Tunnel - Take the pledge: "...Despite countless hours and millions of dollars spent marketing the $8 billion road project, the latest Age/Nielsen poll has found that only one in four Victorians believe the tunnel should be the highest infrastructure priority to ease congestion and improve liveability." The Age