This is part two of my ten year old photos from September 2009. At the time, Myki had been launched in regional cities, and was about to start in Melbourne. Ahead of the wider rollout, I got to look around the Myki test centre, which was fascinating. Around the place were lots of test cards and computers and other hardware https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielbowen/48836573347/in/phot
My car has a spot in the central console area thingy that looks like it has been designed to store your mobile phone so you can kind of see the screen while driving, for navigational purposes. At least, the manual doesn't seem to document its purpose, and I can't figure out what else it could be for. A few months ago I had to drive to Balwyn to pick up a batch of stuff to bring home. My naviga
It's well known that the Free Tram Zone worsened CBD tram crowding, but the package of fare reforms implemented in 2015 (planned by the Napthine government, matched by Labor) also capped zone 1+2 fares at zone 1 prices. This removed a long-time bugbear in the fare system: the huge jump from going over the zone boundary. New statistics show the effects. Herald Sun today: Fare change driving
It's a miracle! Back in 2011, the train information on this Smartbus sign at Bentleigh station was switched off. In 2016 during the level crossing removal project, the bus stop and sign were removed, then put back. For a while the sign wasn't working, but then the bus times were switched on. But not the train times. On Monday, for the first time in over 8 years, the train times re-app
This blew my tiny mind. https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielbowen/48716029936/in/dateposted/ Speaking of Metro tunnel station names, the project publicity is increasingly talking about (new) North Melbourne station. It's a shame the old one wasn't renamed to West Melbourne (as per the plan) last year when all the maps were reprinted for the opening of the Mernda extension. Hopefully
Trouble afoot for the Melbourne Airport rail link? Age: The new proposal would see airport trains use existing rail lines between Southern Cross and Sunshine, and add a new line between Sunshine and the airport, sources close to the project have said. Herald Sun: ...while most prefer an express route with only one stop, the state governmentโs plan to include the airport rail project in its
This, the other week, was interesting: In a concerning revelation, researchers have found that myki, in conjunction with social media, can be used to uncover a wealth of information about card users. ABC: 'Shocking' myki privacy breach for millions of users in data release Here's the report and media release from the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner: Information Commissi
One of the tropes of urban planning is that traders think car parking (and car access generally) for their customers is far more important than it might actually be. Here are some live examples in Melbourne right now. Save Inkerman! In Caulfield, traders reckon their businesses will suffer if separated bike lanes, part of the Principal Bike Network, replace car parking. Some residents, w
If you follow me on Twitter, you may have already seen this. A man rushed past on the stairs at Southern Cross. He ran down and around the corner, then doubled-back to the V/Line fare gates. My guess is he'd come from the Metro platforms. Here's a short video of what happened next. https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1159651864255668224 (It's only 18 seconds to play in full. You
This went super viral, at least by my standards. It started off as a reply to a Tweet from Tosh Greenslade (from Mad As Hell) - he pointed out a similar slogan, then I realised the BBQ Shapes box design is near identical to the livery on the trams. Someone suggested a look at the other modes... and it grew from there. https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1158848074367639552 On Twitte
by 
