TRAFFIC MISMANAGEMENT

There is plenty of examples in Adelaide of poor traffic management and it is something that drives most of us almost insane.  I believe that Colonel William Light who is buried in Light Square and who holds the distinguished honour of being the only person buried within the CBD would be turning in his grave at the complete and total mis-management of traffic in our beautiful City.

Our City is one of only a handful in the world that was planned.  Our wide streets are the envy of much bigger Cities than ours, like New York or London.  Colonel Light in his infinite wisdom planned our City on a grid pattern with wide streets, which were designated as the main thoroughfares.  Other narrower streets were designed as distributor roadways and thus designed not to be a part of the main traffic routes.

On any day one enters the City and finds themselves constantly stopping at the numerous traffic lights.  One asks themselves why?  Why can't they be synchronised?  In any direction of travel on North Terrace, King William Street, Grenfell Street, Currie Street, Wakefield Street or Grote Street often find themselves being stopped at each intersection.  Yet if one goes to New York, one can travel from one end of Manhatten to the other without stopping.  The lights go green one after the other and if you maintain the speed limit they go green one after another in sequence at any time of the day.

This simple concept is lost to Adelaide.  We stop traffic at King William St then James Place then Gawler Place then the Car Park then Hindmarsh Square then Frome St.  It is crap and totally unacceptable.

Why can't the James Place pedestrian lights be replaced with an underpass.  A fence running up the middle of the roadway to prevent pedestrians from J walking.  Why must trams have to sit for sometimes two minutes waiting to turn from King William Street into North Terrace? 

Car parking / Loading Zones and Taxi zones should be moved from the major thoroughfares and into adjacent side streets.  All street car parking should be banned within the CBD as there is more than enough in car parks and on the periphery.

The Government has the opportunity to make millions by adopting the American style of illegal parking.  Fining and removing the vehicle.  We must set up a large compound out at say Gillman.  Any vehicle that is parked illegally, is swiftly removed and towed to this location.  $300 + the parking fine to retrieve your vehicle.  After 6 months the vehicle if not claimed is sold at auction.  Cars parked illegally in Adelaide cause traffic chaos.  Fining the vehicle does not remove the traffic hazard.  If people don't like it stiff. Don't park illegally.

However, the powers that be must seriously get their collective heads out of their arses and start managing our traffic better than they have been.  If New York and London can do it, surely Adelaide would be a piece of piss.

That's my opinion.

POOR SERVICE

It is laughable that some friends of mine who wish to attend football matches and any other function at the brilliant Adelaide Oval find it almost impossible to get home on public transport, despite the fact the oval is in the City.

 

Persons who live in Craigmore, Blakeview, Paralowie, Gulfview Heights and many places down south have bus services that simply go missing in the evenings.  Some night events, especially the football do not finish until at least 10.30pm, so if you live anywhere that is serviced by Route 443 for example you are stuffed as you should have been on the 8.50pm train from Adelaide.

 

Furthermore, none of the AOX services help you either!

 

Now, forget the AFL for a minute.  What about if you are a student attending a night lecture at TAFE, they conclude at about 9pm or 9.30pm.  What about going out to dinner or catching a movie or other special show?  residing in the above mentioned area's you MUST use your car (if you have one) or just miss out.

 

We are endeavouring to minimise the number of people who take the risk of drink driving, yet the Government in their ultimate wisdom have removed the alternative.  This is quite simply bizarre.

 

Of course they will use the money factor and the fact that they have none.  Well let me let you and them in on an observation and a way of redirecting some resources to provide adequate night services to areas in need.  There are a number of individual services in Adelaide that are designated as GO ZONES and operate to a basic 15/30 minute frequency.  This is overkill.  A 20/40 frequency would be more than adequate on these routes at least: 506 541 W90 235 502 just to mention a few.  Then there is the duplication of services such as Golden Grove Road which has C1 C2 G40 548 all running on the same section.  Then there is Route 560 which is burnt off by the more frequent 500 & 502.

 

Our system is very very slow to adapt to changing community requirements and it is now beyond a joke and a shame.  Gulfview Heights has been populated for over 15 years and still to this day has no bus service operating through it.  There are other large parts of suburbia that are poorly serviced and not all are in the outer suburbs.

 

I agree that cost is important and the key, but public transport is just that, PUBLIC.  It is an essential service just like postal services etc etc.  Unfortunately our system is sadly lacking any vision for the future.

 

As I have mentioned in previous posts the entire system is controlled by a number of empire builders who are hell bent on re-inventing the wheel from ridiculous route numbering, bizarre timetabling and poor stop numbering standards.  Yes, even something relatively simple as stop numbering (a unique invention by the former MTT over 60 years ago) has been made diabolical because of the unfounded use of letters and thus making some service skip numbers.  Above all, it makes the system difficult to understand and use for customers.

 

An injection of funding and the removal of some misguided individuals who quite simply have no idea about simple public transport services is urgently required.  Public transport is not rocket science and it does not need to be as complicated as it is.

 

That's my view.

ROUTE NUMBERS

Am I alone in believing that the route numbering system of Adelaide's bus services have become confusing and ultimately user unfriendly?

I think it is confusing for tourists and people in general who are unfamiliar with a service to expect them to fully understand that they have to catch a C1 from C1 or a J1 from T3 and a B10 from I3.

Could our system possibly revert to using some single or double digit route numbers?

Route 1  (J1A)
Route X1 (J1X)
Route 2  (J1)
Route 3  (J2)
Route 4  (162)
Route 10 (B10)
Route 11 (B12)
Route 13 (H33)
Route 20 (G10)
Route 550 (C1)
Route 551 (C1G)
Route 552 (C2)

Just an example.  What do you think?

SALISBURY / MAWSON LAKES SERVICES

As I mentioned in my previous post I focussed on Route 224 and the Gawler Central train that require a significant overhaul in their service delivery.

Patronage on Route 224 has declined since it was re-routed through the winding streets of Mawson Lakes thus making a lengthy journey even more lengthy.  Route 224 and the adjacent Route 228 should form the spine of Northern suburbs bus services and complement the Gawler Central railway.  As a result of this there needs to be a shake-up of most Northern feeder services to make them more suitable for community use in 2015 and beyond. 

As there is two service providers that operate in the Northern suburbs there needs to be leadership shown by the State Government and enforce change across the board for the betterment of the public, not the service providers.

The following is a brief outline of alterations that I believe are required.  Please read it carefully and digest it.  Feedback and robust discussion is always appreciated.

• Route 220    City to Smithfield via Main North Rd, Mawson Lakes Bvd, Main North Rd, Midway Rd, Hamblynn Rd
• Route 221    City to Mawson Lakes via Main North Rd, Pratt Ave, Henderson Ave, Mawson Lakes Bvd
• Route 222    City to Mawson Lakes via Main North Rd, Mawson Lakes Bvd
• Route 223F   City to Salisbury North via Main North Rd, Salisbury Hwy, Shepherdson Rd, Morgan St, Kings Rd, Bolivar Rd
• Route 224    City to Elizabeth via Main North Rd, Mawson Lakes Bvd, Salisbury Hwy, Haydown Rd, Philip Hwy
• Route 225F  City to Salisbury via Main North Rd, Kesters Rd, Nelson Rd, Northbri Ave, Cross Keys Rd
• Route 226F  City to Para Hills via Main North Rd, South Tce, Bridge Rd, Lamington St, Williamson Rd
• Route N227  City to Andrews Farm via Main North Rd, Mawson Lakes Bvd, Salisbury Hwy, Main North Rd, Midway Rd, Yorktown Rd, Craigmore Rd, President Ave
• Route 400    Golden Grove to Paralowie via Target Hill Rd, Goddard Dr, Salisbury, Downton Ave, Diment Rd, Bolivar Rd
• Route 401    Elizabeth to Paralowie via Highfield Dr, Saints Rd, Salisbury, Waterloo Corner Rd, Springbank Bvd, Liberator Dr
• Route 402    Salisbury to Paralowie via Waterloo Corner Rd
• Route 403    Salisbury to Mawson Lakes via Halba Cr, Yalumba Dr, Byron Bay Dr, Morgan St, Rundle Rd, Martins Rd
• Route 404    Salisbury to Mawson Lakes via Winzor St, Martins Rd, Lavender Dr, Salisbury Hwy
• Route 407    Salisbury to Two Wells via Waterloo Corner Rd, Diment Rd, Port Wakefield Rd, Virginia
• Route 408    Salisbury to St Kilda via Diment Rd, St Kilda Rd
• Route 410    Mawson Lakes to Salisbury via Mawson Lakes Bvd, Kesters Rd, Nelson Rd, Northbri Ave, Cross Keys Rd
• Route 411    Mawson Lakes to Elizabeth via Oleander Dr, Andrew Smith Dr, Bolivar Rd, Burton Rd, Salisbury, Jarvis Rd, Haydown Rd, Midway Rd
• Route 420    Modbury to Elizabeth via Wright Rd, Beovich Rd, Montague Rd, The Parkway, Mawson Lakes, Salisbury Hwy, Salisbury, Jarvis Rd, Philip Hwy
• Route 549    City to Elizabeth via O-Bahn to TTP, Montague Rd, Bridge Rd, Salisbury, Haydown Rd, Philip Hwy

The above services are a brief outline and although the numbers in some cases are different they essentially replace the service operating today.  For example, Route 549 effectively replaces Routes 500 & 560.

This is my opinion only and with the exception of Route 408 which is a new service the remainder are essentially just a re-arrangement of what is out there today.  The portion of Port Wakefield Rd currently serviced by Route 225 will be serviced by NEW Route 223F and an extended Route 180 (G10) & Route 238 as well as an improved Route 361.  These service alterations explained in detail at a later time.

Some of the benefits of my proposal are:

• Direct access to Ingle Farm SC & Tea Tree Plaza from Salisbury Hwy
• Increased frequency along Salisbury Hwy and through Elizabeth Vale and Elizabeth South with Routes 224 & 420 operating together to form a spine.
• Improved access and service from Salisbury to Golden Grove
• Extended services to St Kilda and Two Wells
• Improved access to Mawson Lakes from Paralowie & Parafield Gardens
• Services operating West of Mawson Lakes will operate through Mawson Interchange and terminate at Mawson Central

Stay tuned for more to come.  Stay safe

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS FAILING

One of our essential services is public transport and whilst probably not as important as Emergency Services it is important nonetheless.  Many people in the community rely soley on bus, train and tram services as their primary means of transport.

Many people that rely on public transport are often in the low socio-economic areas like Salisbury, Elizabeth, Hackham West, Mansfield Park, Smithfield etc etc. Unfortunately though most public transport services are sadly devoid of services whilst more affluent suburbs such as Norwood, Lockleys, Magill, Beaumont, Walkverille and the like are provided with high frequency services. 

The proof is on the pudding.  These high frequency services through the more affluent suburbs of Adelaide are usually well patronised because public transport is cheaper and more economical than using a car and the citizens have a reliable option.  Those people living in low income areas are not awarded the same priviledge, despite being more reliant on the service than others.  Theoretically, the service delivery should be reversed.

A good example of public transport failing the general populace is in the Northern suburbs.  Lets focus on Route 224 and the Gawler Central train services.  Route 224 operates from Elizabeth to the City and runs through Elizabeth South, Elizabeth Vale, Salisbury, Parafield Gardens, Mawson Lakes, Gepps Cross and Enfield.  It has been regarded for many years as one of the busiest (long distance) bus services in Adelaide.  Yet despite this tag, its first service in the morning departs Elizabeth at 5.21am and does not arrive in the City until 6.46am.  This virtually renders the service useless to many shift workers in the inner northern suburbs.  The last service leaves the City at 11.50pm which is a throw back to 1950 when the City stopped at Midnight.

The Gawler Central train does not fair much better with its first service not arriving in the City until 6.05am and the last service departs Adelaide at 11.50pm.  Both Route 224 and the Gawler Central train operate hourly after 8.00pm which in my view is completely inadequate in 2015.

Then there is the story of the numerous feeder service that radiate from various stations along the way into the hearts of the Northern suburbs Routes like 400, 401, 411, 442, 451, 461, 492 just to name a few.  These services are worse than Route 224 and the train and I will discuss them in another article.

Route 224 should have its first service departing Elizabeth at 4.00am and the last service departing the City at 1.00am. Along with this the service should operate to a 40 minute frequency.  This combined with Route 228 would provide a 20 minute frequency along the inner portion of Main North Road.

The Gawler Central train should operate to a 30 minute frequency at night.  This line should be awarded as the first in SA to operate 24/7.  Trains would depart Adelaide at 1.00am, 2.00am & 3.00am and stop only at Dudley Park, Kilburn, Mawson Lakes, Parafield, Salisbury, Elizabeth, Smithfield, Munno Para, Tambelin, Gawler and Gawler Central.

Well that's my view.

Until next time - stay safe.

SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE

A recent story in Adelaide regarding slippery road pavers in Victoria Square and Hindley Street raises some very serious issues.

Who in their right mind from Adelaide City Council would go 'shopping' and decide on a paver that is slippery when wet?  We wouldn't do it around our homes so why is it ok for Governments on any level to display this level of incompetence?

Surely, the first question asked when they had samples would have been "How slippery are they when they are wet"?  Nobody in Council seems to have asked this very basic question.

Now, the footage shown on news bulletins of a near miss involving an AdelaideMetro bus, raises even more concerns.  The full footage shows a near miss with a four wheeled drive who had cut into the lane and thus significantly reduced the buses stopping distance on a very slippery road surface.  This was not highlighted by anyone, not even the TWU.  Well not in the media anyway.

Motorists not understanding the dangers of reducing the stopping distances of heavy vehicles is very common and it is purely the skill and professionalism of truck and bus drivers that prevents many more serious accidents, however creates a near miss where 99% go unnoticed.

Getting back to these ridiculously slippery pavers, what about those people (like myself) who ride a motorbike or scooter or cyclists?  Many roads are slippery enough as it is in wet weather let alone a poor choice of road base adding to it.

Victoria Square and Hindley Street should be closed to all traffic until these pavers are replaced and as a matter of urgency. 

That's my view.  Until next time keep safe.