@jedsetter@aus.social
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

jedsetter

@jedsetter@aus.social

Enthusiastic geographer. I blog about buses, podcast about Sydney's history and documentarised the Macquarie River.

Good takes are my own. Bad takes must be someone else's.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

timrichards, to random
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

Oh god my flight's been delayed. In my experience, the more tired and desperate you are to get home, the higher the likelihood of your flight being delayed. [sigh]

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards it could always be worse, my syd-bris xpt was bustituted in its entirety today!

The coach didn't have beds though so I cashed out and booked a flight. So it goes.

ajsadauskas, (edited ) to cars
@ajsadauskas@aus.social avatar

So the RTA's own modelling showed the Rozelle Interchange would be a traffic disaster—but generating more toll road trips for Transurban was more important.

"The [NSW Roads and Traffic Authority] finalised the first business case for the WestConnex tunnel project in June 2013, with the help of road designers from around the world.

"[Paul Forward, a former CEO of the RTA] said the initial concept did not include the Rozelle Interchange.

...

"In 2014, an expert review group was formed to assess these plans.

"Mr Forward said it was at this point that TfNSW bureaucrats began to question the connectivity provided by the design.

"The RTA's former director of traffic Chris Ford told the inquiry that 15 alternative designs were modelled.

"Mr Ford said the modelling found that another motorway leading to the Anzac Bridge would cause congestion.

"'The issues that we see today were very clearly established in the modelling in 2014,' he said.

"In November 2015, after Mr Forward and Mr Ford were dismissed, TfNSW updated the WestConnex business case to include the tunnel to the Anzac Bridge, despite the congestion concerns raised by the modelling.

"In 2016, Transport for NSW updated the business case a second time ... creating a tunnel linking the Iron Cove Bridge to the Anzac Bridge."

...

"In 2018, the NSW government sold its 51 per cent stake in the Sydney Motorway Corporation, the body responsible for operating WestConnex, to Transurban for $9 billion.

"Mr Forward said the final design would generate a larger number of toll trips than previous options."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-03/sydney-western-harbour-tunnel-warringah-freeway-traffic-disaster/103801818

@fuck_cars

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@ajsadauskas @fuck_cars absolutely cooked decision making. Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct one. Anyone with an even basic level of understanding of road geometry can (and did) spot the problem with these projects from a mile away. Sigh.

I sometimes wonder about an alternative timeline where the m4 east was built circa '04. That was the actual """missing link""".

When can we have our surface street space back for public/active transport and placemaking?

timrichards, to Trains
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

Great to see Amtrak putting on new train services in the USA. Behold the Borealis, a new named train connecting Minneapolis/St Paul to Chicago: https://www.amtrak.com/borealis

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards new name seems a bit excessive when it's really just an increase in frequency on a section of existing route, almost. Imagine If every destination pair variant in the NE corridor (or windsor-quebec) had a unique name...

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards maybe I'm just jealous the Grafton, casino and Brisbane xpts don't all have epic aspirational names.

joannaholman, to random
@joannaholman@aus.social avatar

Love waking up to find out six hours ago someone edited a toot I’d boosted to say something wildly different and kinda problematic. There should be a limit to how much you can edit toots that have been boosted. Fix a typo? Absolutely. Totally change the content? No

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@joannaholman oooo that's not good. For some reason i thought edit function was only usable if no one had boosted yet. Maybe I just invented a great feature!?

JulianOliver, to opsec
@JulianOliver@mastodon.social avatar

Test case: You get a voice msg from a friend in the middle of the night. They're in a local park and they need your help right now.

Soon, we will not know whether to act.

Time to work on 'code words' with family and friends, to help filter people from their simulations

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/mar/31/openai-deems-its-voice-cloning-tool-too-risky-for-general-release

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@JulianOliver April fools!

Transportist, to sydney
@Transportist@mastodon.social avatar

Moving a refrigerator by train

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards @Transportist all these stations lifts have really improved the moving house by train experience.

timrichards, to Travel
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

This is why we need a better Sydney-Melbourne train, either sleeper or high-speed.

'Supply and demand on steroids' as peak Sydney to Melbourne flights exceed $900. What does it mean for holiday travel? - ABC News https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-23/grand-prix-holiday-peak-airfares-flights-supply-demand/103610198

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards I was looking for a sleeper weekend away recently (my discovery pass was timing out) and Melbourne was a non starter. the terrible timing of the Brisbane/casino option meant there was abundant availability at short notice.

danwentzel, to LosAngeles
@danwentzel@urbanists.social avatar

Hollywood Blvd. is getting an overhaul, including one mile of bus lanes and over two miles of protected bike lanes. I can't wait. Buses from every direction start and finish their routes on Hollywood Blvd.

L.A. City Announces Hollywood Boulevard Bus/Walk/Bike Upgrades

https://la.streetsblog.org/2024/03/21/l-a-city-announces-hollywood-boulevard-bus-walk-bike-upgrades

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@danwentzel bikes and buses aren't natural bedfellows what with their completely different sizes and needs...what's that about?

jedsetter, to sydney
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

This is interesting. Apparently Sydney Metro have decided to promote Barangaroo metro station as having a ferry interchange.

See this post from the Transport Minister's linkedin.

A quick look at the location of the wharves and metro station, they're over 600m walk from each other.

Wynyard station is literally closer to the wharves than Barangaroo and I haven't seen it promoted as a ferry interchange.

Am I missing something here!?

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

This has also got me wondering what the further published interchange in Sydney is.

Wynyard station has some bus stands that are pretty far apart so i started there. Turns out TfNSW does promote Wynyard as a ferry interchange with Barangaroo to some extent (see: https://transportnsw.info/document/3488/wynyard-station-map.pdf).

I would say that interchange is smoother with the Wynyard Walk providing a covered connection most of the way, although Barangaroo Central is still very much under construction so maybe that's an unfair comparison.

Ferry aside, Wynyard Station Bus stand V on Kent Street is a 400m walk from the Wynyard light rail stop, although that is entirely underground should you so desire through Wynyard Walk and the station.

The equivalent Parramatta Station map also shows the Ferry Wharf, although at 800m I don't think anyone is suggesting that interchange.

The station list drop down found here (https://transportnsw.info/stops#/) might be the best indicator. Next to each station name are the circles indicating available modes.

Wynyard is T, B, L. Barangaroo Wharf is listed separately as an F.

Circular Quay on the other hand is T, B, F, L.

Parramatta Station is T, B only.

Even Milsons Point, just 500m from its wharf, is listed as T, B only.

It seems like there isn't a precedent for including a ferry interchange so far from the station, I guess they just wanted to bulk out the list of connections.

I pity any tourist that decides to attempt this one, particularly on a rainy day...

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@franksting Indeed. Wynyard is a Sydney Trains station. I'm saying that Wynyard is closer to Barangaroo wharf than barangaroo metro is to the wharf. Despite this, Onboard annoucements, displays and promotional material don't promote Wynyard as a ferry interchange (compare to Circular Quay).

Obviously different groups will have different tolerances for interchanging, but 600m is pretty far to be advertising an interchange in my opinion. Especially in the absence of any internal connection.

It's generally considered that an average passenger will walk between 400 and 800 metres at most to get to a public transport service. Expecting users to leave a station and walk 600m through the street grid to interchange between services is kind of far, especially given they're both brand new. of course this is subjective.

ajsadauskas, (edited ) to afl
@ajsadauskas@aus.social avatar

The saga of Waverley Park — Melbourne's car-dependent suburban AFL stadium with a planned seated capacity of over 150,000 (not a typo!)

A really good run down by @philip on the plans by the AFL (and its predecessor, the VFL) to build the world's largest stadium in outer-suburban Melbourne.

Unfortunately, a planned railway line past the stadium to Rowville was never built. That meant a massive 25,000-spot car park as the only real means to get there.

While most of it has been demolished and redeveloped for housing, the oval itself still used by Hawthorn Football Club as a training and administration centre.

https://youtu.be/LvvLwiRCx4s?si=x2QvxepgPtBtJZfx

@fuck_cars

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@ajsadauskas @nictea @philip @fuck_cars has anyone ever said melbourne does planning well?! i reckon it's top contender for most thoughtless sprawl, and sydney and Brisbane put up a fight!

ajsadauskas, to sydney
@ajsadauskas@aus.social avatar

Sydney has opened up consultation on a strategy to reduce car traffic and make the city more walkable

"Driving in central Sydney will become harder under a plan to make the city more comfortable for pedestrians.

"The City of Sydney wants to narrow roads for wider footpaths and push for lower speed limits to discourage drivers from the CBD and transform Sydney into a walkable city.

"The council will also install more pedestrian crossings and prioritise people over cars... five times more pedestrians than motorists on the average street, yet just 40 per cent of road space is allocated to footpaths."

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/greener-safer-calmer-the-plan-to-discourage-drivers-from-central-sydney-20240312-p5fbr7.html

Some key points of the strategy are:

We will ensure that there is sufficient space for people to walk.

We will improve connectivity for people walking by ensuring there are frequent street crossings that give people priority and that align with people’s walking routes.

We will ensure that footpaths and crossings are accessible so that everyone can use them.

We will plan our city based on 10-minute neighbourhoods so that people are able to meet their daily needs easily by walking.

We will make it safer for people to walk by reducing vehicle speeds.

We will reduce traffic volumes on surface streets and manage through-traffic in residential neighbourhood streets to improve both safety and experience for people walking.

We will work to make all people feel safer while walking around our city.

We will work to improve compliance with road rules, especially the lesser-known rules that benefit people walking.

We will make our streets and public spaces comfortable and inviting by ensuring that they
are green and cool.

We will make sure that there are frequent opportunities for people to stop and rest, use the toilet or have a drink of water.

We will make our city more pleasant to walk in by reducing noise and air pollution from
traffic.

We will make all streets interesting to walk along by ensuring that built form has active, permeable frontages that invite engagement and curiosity.

We will use design, activations and installations to create neighbourhood-based community and encourage people to interact with their streets.

Full details here: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/your-feedback-walking-strategy-action-plan#strategy

Unfortunately, the car-brained leader of the local business lobby isn't on board:

"Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou welcomed efforts to make the city pedestrian-friendly... But Nicolaou said it was difficult to see how making Sydney a predominantly walking city would benefit businesses such as retailers."

(Worth repeating that 80% of people on an average city street are pedestrians, so it already is a predominantly walking city.)

Anyway, if you think the plan's a good idea, make sure you let the Sydney City Council know by emailing sydneyyoursay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

@fuck_cars

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@fullfathomfive @ajsadauskas @fuck_cars it's a strategy so naturally light on very specific detail, but this should help!

anathema_device, to random
@anathema_device@bne.social avatar

‘Wildly toxic’ poison used on fire ants is killing native Australian animals, experts warn Senate inquiry | Australia news | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/16/fipronil-fire-ant-poison-toxic-senate-inquiry-bans

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@anathema_device

"However a fire ant eradication spokesperson said the risk to the environment by using fipronil was far outweighed by the impact fire ants would have if not eradicated"

This is the balancing act though, right? Is there a safer alternative that will be as effective? My understanding is the absolute worst case for native ecology is fire ants naturalise.

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@anathema_device agree. give this is happening in an agricultural/conservation space I'm reasonably confident this conversation is being had.

liamvhogan, to random
@liamvhogan@aus.social avatar

‘Nobody in their right minds would now advocate for the destruction of Paddington. Nobody would advocate for the destruction of Surry Hills…’

[drawing circles on a map] go on

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-11/nsw-rezoning-housing-sydney-suburbs-communities-density-planning/103566510

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@liamvhogan funny the first guy mentions surry Hills as an example. What you mean the place where terraces on 100m2 blocks co exist with 6 storey new builds and warehouse conversions? Sounds like a great future for Gordon imho.

ajsadauskas, to fuckcars
@ajsadauskas@aus.social avatar

What can you get to within a 15-minute walk of your house?

A recent YouGov survey asked Americans what they think they should be able to get to within a 15-minute walk of their house.

Of these choices, I can currently walk to all of them from my apartment, aside from a university (no biggie, I'm not currently studying, although there is a Tafe within walking distance), a hospital, and a sports arena.

How many can you get to with a 15 minute walk from your house?

@fuck_cars

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@ajsadauskas @fuck_cars this just shows that despite countless tv shows that attest otherwise, Americans have no appreciate for the humble neighbourhood bar.

ajsadauskas, (edited ) to auspol
@ajsadauskas@aus.social avatar

Hold on a sec, weren't we all told that privatisation would lead to cheaper electricity prices?

Weren't we told that repealing the carbon tax would lead to cheaper electricity prices?

Weren't we told that sticking with (more expensive) coal and gas power over (cheaper) renewables and storage would lead to cheaper electricity prices?

From the ABC:

"At the heart of the price gouging inquiry, initiated by the ACTU and led by Allan Fels, is determining in a high inflation environment what's general inflation and what else might be influencing pricing behaviour, the main offending price gouging industries, how they do it and how it impacts everyday Australians.

"Part of the problem is Australia is awash with oligopolies, which means there isn't as much price competition as there might otherwise be, which helps explain why real wage growth has been low and why the real prices of so many goods are so high.

"And while most of the media attention has been on Coles and Woolworths, the report will include other sectors accused of customer gouging and breaching trust such as energy, airlines and banks.

"Sydney University professor Lynne Chester, from the school of social and political sciences, supplied the inquiry with a detailed submission ... [which] said electricity prices have been escalating since 2005, largely due to increases in the charges paid for the generation of electricity. She said the charge for electricity makes up a significant component of the electricity price paid for by consumers.

"A key issue was that the regulation was designed for a competitive market, assuming competition would deliver lower prices, but the market was never competitive due to the presence of big powerful generator companies that have been merging with retail companies to create giants such as AGL, Origin and Energy Australia."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-05/price-gouging-grocery-prices-energy-bills-airfares-inquiry-actu/103420574

@australianpolitics

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@ajsadauskas @australianpolitics yeah if you can't feasible set up a competitor it fails the 'should be privatised' test. Ofc there's caveats on having a private operator running specific functions but selling infrastructure that is 'one of a kind' and very necessary into private hands is insane. Dams, rail roads, highways, transmission infrastructure all fall in this category.

timrichards, to Trains
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

On my eighth visit to Cook, a former railway town that's now a ghost town. Possibly an excessive number.

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards when I win the lottery I too shall visit cook!

humantransit, to random
@humantransit@mastodon.online avatar

San Francisco Bay Area: If you really think merging all the transit agencies into one giant agency is a good idea, please see this: https://humantransit.org/2015/08/on-transit-integration-or-seamlessness.html

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@humantransit interesting perspective. thinking about this from an Australian context, my first inclination is to disagree - our state based planning feels a lot more successful at integration than what US cities typically achieve. there are definitely big limitations in terms of responsiveness to change/local concerns, but it feels like an agency like transport for nsw that meets the needs of 8m odd people across 1000s of square km/miles makes public transport more legible and accessible than what you'd find in your avg US state/even the bay area.

you make great points, but my experience riding transit in these places makes it hard not to favour a more centralised agency than is typical in the US.

jedsetter, to cycling
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

It's inspiring stories like this that make me want to always wear a helmet mounted camera.

https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist-threatened-with-legal-action-over-close-pass-clip-305935

jake, to auspol

The Guardian: Sleeper services may return on Sydney-Melbourne route after new trains arrive, as night patronage booms

> But the New South Wales regional transport minister, Jenny Aitchison, told Guardian Australia the government was keeping an open mind when asked if the existing XPT sleepers could be refurbished and added to train sets after the new rolling stock arrived, or whether surplus stock could be used to run more scheduled services on popular routes.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/06/sydney-to-melbourne-sleeper-train-services-return

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@jake people might prefer the reclining seats Jake, we just won't know until 2030.

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@timrichards @jake at least they are acknowledging the issue. now to convince the libs to take it to the next election...

jedsetter,
@jedsetter@aus.social avatar

@melissamadsen @timrichards @jake yeah I've heard that to but tbh it isn't my impression. I guess it's relative to what you're used to...

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