6 minute read
Your views
from Journeys July 2020
Fuel crackdown
Real-time pricing apps for fuel will work well in urban centres, not so much for rural communities. If we want to bring lasting change, then I suggest a boycott of a fuel brand. When they lower their price, move on to the next one. They are the ones who say volume of sales dictates price, so let’s get together and make it happen.
Philip Ryan, Latrobe
Electric bus feedback
The RACT’s electric bus is a typical, modern, unnecessarily complicated, high-tech answer to a simple old problem: moving people around. Whilst it may ultimately be less profitable for bus owners to employ a human driver, the human-operated bus is quite simple. All it needs is for our Metro to recognise that we need a more user-friendly service, so it no longer takes an hour or more to travel between Hobart’s assorted mini-cities using perhaps two or three interchanges. In addition, the Metro would do well not to dismiss the idea that mobility and flexibility are keys to competition with the private traffic-congestor, the car. Given modern GPS and communications technology (such as the telephone, radio, wi-fi and computer), buses no longer need to run on fixed routes and can be directed to pick up passengers as they need pick-ups. Such a system would be operated using either 12-seater mini-buses or the larger 20-seater buses, leaving our massive and cumbersome larger buses to operate as an expressway service between major centres.
As for electrically driven buses – no problem. They have been around for over a 100 years, either as trams or trolley buses. But I would trust a human to resolve better and more quickly the instantaneous ethical conundrums involved when it comes to accidents and preserving life than an automated driverless bus.
Whilst it is good to see the RACT finally lobbying for better public transport, the best solutions are the simplest and we already have perfectly adequate technology to improve Hobart’s public transport so that it becomes useful.
RH Findlay, Lindisfarne
Kingston traffic
Due to future developments at Huntingfield, Kingston and the very busy roundabout outside of it, it would make sense to ease this load by putting in a slip-road for residents
Mal Leyland travels all over the countryside on his Elebike...
Shouldn ' t you be doing the same?
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leaving Whitewater Creek Estate. A very easy fix for traffic heading north connecting to the Kingston Bypass.
Peter Mawbey, Blackmans Bay
Knot safety
I write to suggest that you take up the following with Transport Tasmania. All registered owners of goods carrying flat trays, utes and trailers be required to prove they can tie the following knots: clove hitch, bowline and truckies hitch to tension down the load. This could be done at first registration or renewal of registration. I recently avoided hitting a load that came off a trailer because the rope became undone. Also remind drivers of the twosecond rule when following another vehicle.
David Black, Port Sorell
Improving public transport
I can’t think of a worse solution to the traffic problems of the Southern Outlet than an extra lane, which would only get filled with more cars. I can’t even imagine where this lane would fit. The only real solution to the traffic problems is to get more cars off the road and this means an improvement in public transport and a change in the ways we work – different working hours, more working from home, for example. Public transport needs to be considered in the same way that building and maintaining roads is looked at – an investment for the future and not expecting to make a profit, but making it cheap (even free perhaps), easy and frequent. The counterargument to more people using public transport is that we need our cars to drive to all sorts of places during the day, but studies have shown that there are a large percentage of people who drive their cars to the city, park them and drive home at the end of the day. If these users can be provided with good public transport (ferries included), this would make a huge difference to the congestion.
Janet Butler, South Hobart
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SCI ART WALKS
Tune into the natural environment just beyond your doorstep with Beaker Street Festival’s new project Sci Art Walks – a series of scientific audio talks paired with nature walks around the state and pieces by local musicians. Learn how scientists are saving Tasmanian devils as you explore Cradle Mountain, or ponder the effects of climate change on our marine species at Freycinet National Park, just to name a couple. It’s the perfect companion for your next Tassie adventure. To register your interest, visit beakerstreet.com.au
HAVE YOUR SAY
Our annual member survey is back. From road safety to member rewards, we want to hear your thoughts on a range of topics. Your valuable feedback helps us improve our service and the benefits we offer our members. This year we’ve got five $250 United fuel vouchers to give away for members who complete the survey and provide their contact details. The survey closes on 24 August 2020. Visit ract.com.au/member-survey
Exploring Cradle Mountain.
THE COOKING CORNER
Do you have a delicious recipe you’d like to share or need some cooking inspiration? We’re creating a bank of recipes from our very own members. Visit ract.com.au/
the-cooking-corner DRIVER TRAINING HUB
If you or a family member are after some tips and resources to complement the learning-to-drive process, look no further than our new online hub. Visit ract.com.au/
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