Categories
Toxic Custard newsletter walking

Here’s an idea: Pedestrian Clearways

For the proposals in City of Melbourne’s discussion papers to be described as “radical” and “ridiculous” just shows how far we haven’t come in transport planning in this state. Perhaps it’s no surprise given that in the forthcoming election, if choosing a major party, we vote for either the mob who wants to build two  ... [More]

Categories
Photos from ten years ago Toxic Custard newsletter

Old photos from June 2008

Here’s another in my series of old photos from ten years ago… this time, June 2008. You might remember that Frank Woodley did TV ads for Metlink, to encourage bus usage. Here’s the cartoon version, on a bus stop. Speaking of advertising, I quite liked this ad for the Get Smart movie (originally posted here).  ... [More]

Categories
Toxic Custard newsletter walking

Walking at night? Be one of the good guys

Lots of people usually alight at my station, even late at night. But as we all exit and walk off in different directions, the streets, especially at night, can get pretty quiet very fast. The awful murder of Eurydice Dixon has got us as a society once again talking about personal safety issues. While it’s  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Carnegie and Murrumbeena stations opened

The new Carnegie and Murrumbeena stations opened on Monday morning. These used to be my local stations. I lived close to Murrumbeena in my teens, and again from 2003 to 2005, and occasionally used Carnegie as well, and still sometimes pass through on the bus to Chadstone. As this photo from Saturday shows, immediately after  ... [More]

Categories
transport

We need better public transport, not free public transport

From time to time the topic of free public transport comes up, most recently because of changes in Estonia. I think it’s a distraction from far more important issues. I just wanted to address a few points about it. Apologies for the rambling. Would it be a good idea in Melbourne and/or Victoria? I don’t  ... [More]

Categories
Geek Toxic Custard newsletter

Is Google recording your conversations without you knowing?

To my surprise, Google has stored dozens of voice recordings of mine, going back about 18 months.

Categories
transport

Frequency is (temporary) freedom

If you used the Glen Waverley or Sandringham lines over the weekend, you might have got a pleasant surprise. Both were running every 10 minutes for most of Saturday and Sunday — twice the usual frequency. Why? Because the Frankston and Dandenong (Cranbourne/Pakenham) lines were closed between the City and Moorabbin/Westall between Friday 8pm and  ... [More]