Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Today's Fuel Gauge
Some of the reasons for going car free are ethical, some are environmental, some are social. But there's also the plain financial.
Saturday, 23 August 2008
An Accidental Record
Saw a report the other day, where Queensland Ambulance reported that the number of road accidents they have attendented (January to July) has increased since last year. By itself, that's no surprise.
The surprising part was the number. 12,738 Of those, 9488 involved someone being taken to hospital.
"These statistics really are appalling," said Ambulance Commissioner David Melville. "One crash is one too many but almost 13,000 in seven months is ridiculous."
The surprising part was the number. 12,738 Of those, 9488 involved someone being taken to hospital.
"These statistics really are appalling," said Ambulance Commissioner David Melville. "One crash is one too many but almost 13,000 in seven months is ridiculous."
Monday, 11 August 2008
Criminal Motorists
Apparently there has been a recent trend for petrol stations to become 'pre-pay'. According to the VACC, this is to curb the recent increase of fuel theft, due to high prices.
I would have thought that once you have to start resorting to criminal activity, it might be time to reconsider your transport choices.
I would have thought that once you have to start resorting to criminal activity, it might be time to reconsider your transport choices.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Jack's Bike
This is not advertising, but i reckon credit must go to this local fastfood outlet, which has installed a nice bike parking facility for its customers.
Sure it's probably because a large percentage of their target audience is pre-driving age. But still, it's relatively rare to see such a facility so nice and so close. Meanwhile, if anyone sees any bike parking at the Indro monolith, please let us know.
Sure it's probably because a large percentage of their target audience is pre-driving age. But still, it's relatively rare to see such a facility so nice and so close. Meanwhile, if anyone sees any bike parking at the Indro monolith, please let us know.
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Model Identity
One of the interesting things about going car free (if you're the sciency nerdy type) is observing the attachment between people and vehicles.
Recently a friend discovered in a conversation that the other person lived in the same street as her. After a short period of comparing parts of the street, my friend says "Look out for a blue festiva."
It was said in a friendly tone (not as a warning) but reminded me how car-dependence can isolate us from our community. Clearly car people realise that a chance of a face-to-face encounter with another human being (even one that lives in the same street) is so remote as to be not worth considering. Far more likely is the chance of recognising the colour and shape of an object zooming by.
Recently a friend discovered in a conversation that the other person lived in the same street as her. After a short period of comparing parts of the street, my friend says "Look out for a blue festiva."
It was said in a friendly tone (not as a warning) but reminded me how car-dependence can isolate us from our community. Clearly car people realise that a chance of a face-to-face encounter with another human being (even one that lives in the same street) is so remote as to be not worth considering. Far more likely is the chance of recognising the colour and shape of an object zooming by.
Friday, 25 July 2008
Just In Case You're Bored
The wonderful people at King George Square have installed this mammoth TV screen that scrolls through the news of the day. Just to pass those few minutes until your bus arrives.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Road Rage Device
Apparently, San Francisco is starting a system of parking sensors in their parking spaces. The sales pitch is that motorists can be notified by their mobile when a space is available.
Sounds good if you're a fan of drivers reading text messages while driving. Or if you're a fan of watching road rage as drivers compete for the latest available spot. (Ah, the joys of driving ;)
On further inspection it seems the purpose for the sensors (no it's not compassion for motorists) is to signal the parking meter that the car has left, and the balance can be reset to zero. Result: no free parking by using someone else's unused time.
Hopefully the extra revenue for the city goes into public transport :)
Sounds good if you're a fan of drivers reading text messages while driving. Or if you're a fan of watching road rage as drivers compete for the latest available spot. (Ah, the joys of driving ;)
On further inspection it seems the purpose for the sensors (no it's not compassion for motorists) is to signal the parking meter that the car has left, and the balance can be reset to zero. Result: no free parking by using someone else's unused time.
Hopefully the extra revenue for the city goes into public transport :)
Saturday, 12 July 2008
The Joys of Driving
Idling in a car park, in a queue to get onto an already full road, to drive in slippery conditions while more rain falls....
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Who Would Drive?
Was reading an article on public transport etiquette, and one reader (ChrisO) had the following to say about driving to work. Makes me wonder why anyone does do it...
Nothing depresses me more than the thought of paying five or six times my weekly fare in parking alone, missing out on the chance to read or work (yes, billable!) all so I can sit through half a morning with my foot on the clutch, burning petrol that cost more $$$ than my lunch, doing nothing more productive than daydreaming about the next or last change of traffic lights, or getting indignant and self-righteous about the loser in the nearby Land Cruiser who nearly wiped out that motorbike a suburb ago because he was sending a text.
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