Little Old Ladies

As part of the railway upgrade, this weekend my local train was replaced by a "Rail-bus" which takes passengers through the suburbs normally covered by the train.

No worries for me, but this evening as it stopped in my suburb, i was about to head home, when i realised the only other passenger getting off at this stop was a little old lady (who lives on the other side of the tracks) and was not sure where she was (especially at night).

I took my chance to be Mr Citizen and guide her to the station - where she was relieved (and thankful) to be in familiar surroundings.

ps. this may sound like a negative story, but i look at it in a positive light. Public transport has vibe of community support. People who are lost when driving a car either keep driving round in circles until they start to run out of fuel, or pull over to the side of the road while the other cars speed by. On the buses, your fellow traveller is your friend.

Cleaner, Greener, Smarter

One of the parties in the upcoming state election had this great animation on their website.


I think it's a great example of how the non-car option can be better in so many ways.

"A train every 10 minutes transports the same number of people as a freeway. Cleaner. Greener. Smarter."

Missing it already

I've just finished my first full week at my new job. When changes happen, there are new exciting things, but also old things we miss. One of the things i miss is the afternoon bike ride home.

I would go along the Bicentennial Bikeway, in the pleasant afternoon shade. I'd enjoy the activity of joggers and bike riders alongside the nature of the trees and the river. Depending on the time i left work, there might also be the bonus of a sunset over the river. Great times!

But i'm sure there'll also be great things about catching the train to my new job. On my first day, i disembarked at the station and asked where the ticket machine was. My fellow traveller pointed it out, and also gave me directions from the station to my new workplace. Ok, i kinda new that already - but it was still very friendly of the guy to do that for me. :)