A good Sunday drive spoiled

A report from Queensland Health has found that the Whitsunday Islands off north Queensland are “the hub” of golf cart accidents.

. . . 75 per cent of all golf cart incidents in the past 11 years occurred on the Whitsunday Islands.

Dr Dale Hanson says people should drive golf buggies like any other vehicle.

Well, perhaps the problem on the Whitsundays is precisely that they do drive the things like they’re any other vehicle...

While excessive speed is thought to overwhelmingly contribute to these fairway pile-ups, there appear to be no metrics available on drink-driving as a causal factor, so more study of that dimension is urgently required. Another beneficial measure could be for hoon drivers to have their carts summarily impounded.

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1979

September	Thousands turn out for a 125th anniversary re-enactment of the first train journey in Australia.
December	Victoria records an annual road toll of 941, down from 1,061 in 1970.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: ...maybe something else for a change...

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1978

January	The History of Transport Mural, painted by Harold Freeman, is unveiled at Spencer Street Station.
February	Melbourne’s first permanent pedestrian mall, in Bourke Street, is officially opened.
November	The West Gate Bridge is officially opened. A 60c toll applies for cars.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1979 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1977

February	Jacob begins driving (legitimately), coinciding with steady increase in demand for courses in defensive driving.
December	Stage 1 of the Eastern Freeway (Hoddle Street to Bulleen Road) opens.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1978 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1976

July	Random breath testing of drivers is introduced in Victoria.
November	Smoking is banned on trains, trams, and government buses in Victoria.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1977 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1975

January	The 27-kilometre extension of the suburban train network from Dandenong to Pakenham is completed.
May	The first ‘Z’-class trams enter service.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1976 ! !

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Out of the Connex and into the Metro

Customers of Metro Trains, which took over Melbourne’s train system from Connex about six months ago, can arrange to receive text messages advising of delays and disruptions to services.

The text will usually read something like as follows:

Minor delays Pakenham line: citybound trains may be delayed up to 15 minutes

To which one might ask: What kind of suburban train operator would consider fifteen minutes a ‘minor’ delay?

Fifteen minutes is not a ‘minor’ delay unless we’re talking about something like a trans-continental flight. But for someone travelling by train from, say, Dandenong to the City, fifteen minutes represents around a third of the traveling time.

This isn’t Spain! In the context of a suburban train ride, fifteen minutes delay is ƒυςќιηģ major!

Sadly, it seems customers of Metro Trains have not only to contend with chronic delays in their train service. They’re also insulted daily with the debasement of language which seeks to deny the problem.

And there’s no end to it in sight. Unless...

Perhaps Melbourne’s employers might initiate a class action against Metro Trains to recover the millions they’ve lost in productivity, through thousands of their employees being needlessly and uselessly confined to rail carriages for a significant portion of each working day.

Metro customers might help get the ball rolling by clocking in to work 10 or 15 minutes earlier than when they arrive, and tell their employers to invoice Metro Trains for the difference.

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1974

January	The last red swing-door train (commonly known as a ‘Dogbox’ or ‘Doggie’) is retired from passenger service. Carriages on these trains were narrow to prevent an open door hitting an oncoming train.
April	Compulsory blood-alcohol testing after road traffic accidents is introduced.
July	Metric road signs are introduced in Victoria.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1975 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1973

August	The Victorian Government signs a $6m contract to build the first of Melbourne’s underground stations, Museum Station (now Melbourne Central).
December	Plans are announced to reduce Victoria’s open-road speed limit to 60 mph.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1974 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1972

April	Construction resumes on the $75m West Gate Bridge project after an 18 month delay, following its catastrophic collapse in October 1970.
November	Legislation is introduced requiring Victorians to obtain a learner’s permit before they can start driving.
	The first of Melbourne’s new stainless-steel Hitachi trains enters service on the suburban network.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1973 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1971

May	The last ‘wig-wag’ (mechanical pendulum) railway signal in Victoria is replaced by a modern flashing device.
June	Construction work officially begins on the Melbourne underground railway loop, initially estimated to cost $80m. (On completion in the mid-1980s, the final cost was $500m.)
December	Speeds on Victorian country roads are limited to 70 mph for a 12 month trial period.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1972 ! !

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1970

February	The completed Tullamarine Freeway is opened by the Premier, the Hon. Sir Henry Bolte.
July	Melbourne Airport is officially opened.
	After 48 years of operation, the Victorian railways poultry farm at Noble Park is closed. The farm supplied chickens and eggs for the railway’s cafes, bakery, dining rooms and cars.
October	A section of Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge collapses, killing thirty-five workmen.
December	Compulsory wearing of car seat belts becomes law in Victoria. Seat belts, if fitted, must be used by drivers and front-seat passengers.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

 
Next week: 1971 ! !

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