-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Monday, 24 July 2017 7:37 PM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: snippets, Mon.24.7.17

Attached:

170724M Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- myki editorial.
- bollards.
- export gas. with tdu.
- cbd south.
- Windsor station.

170722Sa Melbourne 'Age' - Melbourne SC bollard planking (Craig Butt).

Roderick.

24 Jul 2017 Melbourne Express.
7.55 Metro Bus - Minor Delays to 15 min: Route 400 Laverton station via
Robinsons Road to Sunshine station.
<www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-express-monday-july-24-2017-20170723-g
xh56z.html>

July 22 2017 Brisbane cyclists protest council's plans for shared pedestrian
lane .
Brisbane cyclists "died" for a few minutes on the Victoria Bridge during
Saturday morning, in protest against Brisbane City Council's plans to create
a shared cyclist-pedestrian lane on the bridge.
About a hundred pedal-powered protesters closed the general traffic lanes of
the bridge, as they held a minute silence for fallen cyclists and a
temporary "die-in" by mimicking the carnage of a major crash, which they
believe will happen more often under proposed changes.
Cyclists protest over plans for a shared lane with pedestrians on Victoria
Bridge. Photo: Toby Crockford - Fairfax Media .
The future of one of Brisbane's main river crossings is unclear as buses,
cyclists, pedestrians, green cabs and the planned Brisbane Metro compete for
space within the bridge's proposed new design.
The $944 million Brisbane Metro project would change the use of the bridge,
with Brisbane City Council proposing to turn the bridge "green", which would
remove general traffic and double public transport capacity.
Under this plan, green cabs, cyclists and food delivery riders would be
forced into a single shared pedestrian path on the upstream side of the
river, while the downstream pedestrian path would be widened by 1.2 metres
to allow even more people to use it.
Rolf Kuelsen, who has been a cycling commuter in Brisbane for almost 40
years, said he was "fairly frustrated" by the council plans and what he
believed was a lack of cycling facilities in Brisbane, unlike European
cities.
"It's all about prioritising, and from a health and traffic point-of-view,
cycling and cycleways are a lot safer ways to do things," he said.
"Having been cycling for all these years, both here and in Europe, I know
the split lanes are a much better way to go for us and pedestrians as well."
Rolf Kuelsen has been a cycling commuter in Brisbane for almost 40 years.
Photo: Toby Crockford - Fairfax Media
Mr Kuelsen said he has a near-miss encounter during his morning commute
every couple of days, with the latest coming on Friday when a car had to
slam on the brakes after trying to come up the inside of Mr Kuelsen.
The pedal-powered protesters then gathered outside City Hall, where they
made plans to do a similar demonstration during August. Photo: Toby
Crockford - Fairfax Media
Greens councillor for The Gabba Ward Jonathan Sri said he was pleased the
Brisbane Metro plans were moving forward, but said the proposed changes to
the Victoria Bridge were a "lost opportunity".
"We have seen other cities around the world transition from a car-dominated
transport network to one that prioritises walking, cycling and public
transport - and that's what we need to do here in Brisbane," he said.
"I think council has made the mistake of focusing too heavily on current
cyclist numbers, rather than recognising that cyclist numbers will continue
to grow in the future.
"All we are suggesting is that council converts that widened pedestrian-only
lane, which will be almost four metres wide, to be shared by bikes and
pedestrians and that will address a lot of our concerns."
However, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the numbers of cyclists who use the
bridge simply "can't compete" with the projected public transport boom.
"The reality is that this administration has done more to advance cycling in
this city than any other time in the city's history," he said.
"We are looking at the projected number of public transport users and they
are by far massively greater (than cyclist numbers).
"If we are going to tackle traffic congestion, we have to look after public
transport users as well."
Related Articles:
Future of a Brisbane bridge in question as users battle for space .
<www.theage.com.au/queensland/brisbane-cyclists-protest-against-councils-pla
ns-for-shared-pedestrian-lane-20170722-gxgjn9.html>

Myki ticketing: Tap-and-go technology a touch late for Melbourne's
commuters.
Herald Sun July 23, 2017.
..$700m myki contract renewed before review
..The myki upgrade you've been waiting for
..Refunds for 'touch on' in free tram zone
VICTORIANS are no closer to knowing when Melbourne's myki system will be
adapted to allow passengers to use contactless technologies to touch on.
Public Transport Victoria says it is still "investigating" how to modify
myki to allow passengers to use credit cards and smart phones to touch on
despite other world leading cities already embracing the technology.
Contactless payment systems have been in use in London since June 2015.
They have also been trialled or implemented on parts of the network in other
major cities such as New York.
A myki quick top up machine in action at Domain Interchange.
Current myki operator NTT Data is required to work with PTV to investigate
new and emerging technologies that can improve the system as part of a new
$700m, seven-year agreement, which began last July.
However the delivery and funding of contactless payment systems is not part
of its contract to run the myki system and would see taxpayers' slugged $50
million to allow passengers to use mobile phone and credit cards at
turnstiles.
PTV spokesman Jake McLaughlan said it was still "investigating" the ability
for passengers to touch on and off with contactless payment systems.
With technology ever changing, PTV says it needs to consider the challenges
of rapid obsolescence and ensure any enhancements made don't make the system
less reliable, accessible or equitable.
"Last year we upgraded all myki vending machines to feature contactless
payment to make it easier and quicker for passengers to top up their myki,"
he said.
"We are investigating additional contactless technology, including the
ability for passengers to touch on and off with their credit card or smart
phone."
Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said commuters
would welcome the move, but didn't think it would happen any time soon.
"I think PTV have higher priorities just keeping the whole network ticking
over," Dr Morton said.
"It's fair to say that other cities have had the jump on us on this.
"In London it works really well and you don't even need to register, you can
just walk up to the gate with your credit card and pay the default fare.
"I would welcome it for Melbourne providing it can be implemented in a
reasonable time frame and cost but there are question marks over how long it
will take."
PTV says it has delivered significant improvements to the myki ticketing
system in recent months including faster myki readers and quick top up
machines at some of its busiest stations and stops on the network, including
on-board E-Class trams.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/myki-ticketing-tapandgo-technology-a-tou
ch-late-for-melbournes-commuters/news-story/0e2598337af0701de5b5368479e95f0b
>

* You'd think being last to the dinner table with tap on tap off technology
would mean we could simply use the global best that is already out there
given all other major cities have been using this for years already...
* This goes back to the original implementation, when it was stated that you
wouldn't even need to take your card out of your wallet, just wave it at the
sensor and off you go. But no, they had to implement a system where you have
to physically touch the sensor and wait for it to beep. At this rate,
contactless cards should be able to be used around the year 2200
* Doesn't matter what ticketing system is in place - PTV needs to address
the elephant in the room - that is fare evaders. Evert day on my bus there
are numerous fare evaders and I am sick of subsidising them. How about some
ticket inspectors on buses. Drivers don't even question these people - just
let them walk on. Perhaps each time there is a fare evader, the amount could
be deducted from the driver's pay?
* Yes, and the same people who worked this brilliant contract said that the
East West Contract wasn't worth the paper it was written on (true in the
sense that the several hundred page contract was only $5-$10). Then they
wrote the desalination contract and boy did the Victorian citizen get
stitched up on that one and now they've written the Melbourne Metro tunnel
contract..... This party and major projects is despicable!
* Yet another PTV mess. As usual, Melbourne lags behind the rest of the
world.
* Just do it!
* It can be started tomorrow. It just needs someone to bite the bullet and
say yes.
The technology is there, and in operation around the loop stations, and some
new stations on the Metro lines.
The readers been used, if implemented throughout the network, could take
credit cards and phones.
But it needs the whole network upgraded.
Whichever political party says they will do it, will be one step closer to
winning the next election.

Energy bills: Households paying inflated electricity and gas prices. with
tdu.
Herald Sun July 23, 2017.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/energy-bills-households-paying-inflated-electrici
ty-and-gas-prices/news-story/4f4c4ea257fddd0c1357546fa11dc470>

July 24 2017 Turnbull government moves a step closer to export controls for
gas producers . with tdu.
<www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-government-moves
-a-step-closer-to-export-controls-for-gas-producers-20170723-gxgtoo.html>

Real-life extra plane legroom horror story: Passenger scores two vacant
seats in her row but then it all goes wrong.
Rude and ridiculous passengers on planes .
Flying to your destination used to be reserved for the rich and famous, now
everyone, including the trouserless can enjoy the convenience of flight.
There's nothing quite like realising that everyone boarding your flight has
sat down and there remains next to you an empty seat. "It really is mine,"
you whisper to yourself, allowing your person and belongings to spill into
the newly acquired space.
Jessie Char experienced just that sensation this week when she was greeted
by not one but two vacant seats on her row.
"My two favourite people to sit with on a plane," she tweeted, with a photo
of her aircraft empire.
But then things took a turn for the worse.
The photo that followed depicted one of the bad habits most often exhibited
by fliers.
"Today, I flew on the set of a nightmare," she said, her photo diary
capturing the two naked feet.
Then the left foot reached over and opened a window.
Where does this rank in the worst behaviour of air travellers? Leave a
comment below.
See also: The surprising drink order that annoys flight attendants the most.
See also: Airlines with the most legroom in economy and premium economy.
Traveller's 10th anniversary reader survey
Vote for your Destination of the Decade and Airline of the Decade in our
reader poll to mark 10 years of Traveller.
<www.traveller.com.au/reallife-extra-plane-legroom-horror-story-passenger-sc
ores-two-vacant-seats-in-her-row-but-then-it-all-goes-wrong-gxg7gi>